George Jones “White Lightning” Moonshine & Vodka Looking to Go Nationwide
George Jones “White Lightning” moonshine and vodka is looking to come to a liquor store near you. Currently sold exclusively through the George Jones Museum in Nashville, and manufactured by the Silver Trail Distillery in Hardin, KY, the brand is now looking to expand to national and international markets. The term “White Lightning” is trademarked by the George Jones estate, and is named after George’s first #1 hit in 1959 written by The Big Bopper.
Investment Bank, R.L. Hulett & Co. has been brought on board by the George Jones estate to represent them in searching for a strategic partner to help set up scaling and distribution of the liquor brand. The estate says demand for George Jones spirits has swelled after the White Lightning Apple Pie flavor took home a platinum medal for ‘Unaged Flavor Infused Whiskey/Moonshine’ at the 2015 SIP Awards held annually to gauge consumer satisfaction. Estate managers are also anticipating increased demand after the release of a George Jones biopic scheduled for 2016.
The liquor line was first announced in January of 2015 at the press conference unveiling the plans for the George Jones Museum. At the time, some took exception with the use of George’s name and likeness on a liquor bottle because of the public battles the country music legend went through with alcohol throughout his career and life. The emblem on the White Lightning bottles is George’s “Badass picture” as characterized by his widow Nancy.
“George always wanted to own his own brand of whiskey,” says Nancy Jones. “This was one of the promises I made to him before he died, that I’d make that dream come true.”
On April 24th—the same day the George Jones Museum opened its doors in Nashville—the distillery manufacturing the George Jones moonshine exploded just before 11:00 a.m. Two workers were injured in the explosion after being flung an estimated 25 to 35 feet, and were airlifted to a local hospital with major burns. One of the workers, 27-year-old Kyle Rogers, eventually died of his wounds on May 12th. The distillery was working on a large order for the museum at the time of the explosion.
George’s battles with alcohol are well-documented. In 1967, George ended up in a neurological hospital after binge drinking and amphetamine use almost killed him. In 1979, despite being one of the best-selling artists in the history of country music, George Jones was bankrupt and destitute because of his drinking. He was living in his car and weighed around 105 pounds. George spent time in mental institutions tied to his drinking multiple times and became known as “No Show Jones” because he missed so many engagements over his career.
But George’s widow Nancy says putting his name and likeness on a liquor bottle is a way for George to get back at the sauce that seriously wrecked his life in numerous instances.
October 31, 2015 @ 1:23 pm
I used to live very close to the town of Hardin, KY. I has very saddened when I heard of the explosion. Do you know if the distillery in Hardin is still the one making the spirit? Or has production been moved somewhere else?
As a bourbon enthusiast I will probably try the moonshine. I would prefer one that isn’t flavored. Do you know if they have any plans to release an actual George Jones bourbon that has been aged a couple years? With the bourbon’s newfound popularity it might be a smart move.
October 31, 2015 @ 1:40 pm
I tried to find some more information on the distillery and couldn’t find anything. I haven’t heard anything about different products either. I think that is all being gone through at this point as they prepare for a national roll out.
November 1, 2015 @ 5:25 am
Nancy is engaging in some serious verbal contortion to avoid admitting she’s just trying to make a little money off her husband’s likeness. There’s nothing wrong with that and I don’t think anyone would fault her for maintaining his legacy. But the “George would have wanted this” pitch in regards to the liquor seems like a bit much to me.
April 2, 2016 @ 3:20 pm
How crass. So you knew George Jones and his wishes?…..I am sure there is plenty of revenue from Jone’s recordings…..You criticize it then say..there is nothing wrong with it…..so what is your point really? Hell its a great idea! Somehow you want to believe much of Nashville’s hype for its stars….How would you have a clue as to what really went on in Jone’s life and what he stood for? The only thing that matters is his music. If I am ever back in Nashville I will buy me several bottles, stumble around Printers Alley…soak up the ghosts. Too bad there is hardly any country and western music around any more.
November 1, 2015 @ 7:25 am
If Jones really wanted to sell liquor then so be it. But there are a lot of reasons to be skeptical that Nancy is being truthful. Wanting to put the substance that nearly destroyed him into the hands of others is contradictory to everything he stood for later in life.
November 1, 2015 @ 11:06 am
I wonder if they’ll do product placements for this stuff in country music videos. The younger listeners would finally kind of know who George Jones is if they started drinking his flavored moonshine.
November 1, 2015 @ 2:54 pm
I have, and continue to, find the use of Jones’ likeness and name to sell alcohol in questionable taste. I’m no prude, but I find it disrespectful that George’s name would be used to shill this product, especially given his well publicized struggles with alcohol and substance abuse. I know his wife is free to do as she likes with his estate, but this is distasteful, in my opinion. I certainly, personally, won’t be supporting this product.
November 2, 2015 @ 10:56 am
Can I buy ONE bottle online??
November 2, 2015 @ 11:44 am
I keep waiting for it to come to my town but it never showed up… I would call George Jones the original bro-country singer but everybody would get mad at me so I won’t…
November 3, 2015 @ 5:20 pm
Jones probably the most hardcore traditionalist of them all. Guessing bubba and beh are same person and have an issue with jones.
November 3, 2015 @ 3:03 pm
Moonshine mass produced, now that’s bro country.. Lol…
I’ve tried a few brands of shine, some are good some are meh.. I’ll try it and see if the king of bro country can hold his own.
November 3, 2015 @ 5:19 pm
King of bro country? Wtf are you talking about? I’m guessing you are being sarcastic
November 3, 2015 @ 11:46 pm
how much does it cost? there’s tonnes of mass market ‘moonshine’ showing up the stores lately and it’s all more expensive than aged whiskey which seems backward. i would probably drink the stuff reasonably often if there was a non-ripoff brand available
November 5, 2015 @ 12:35 pm
Why not just call it bourbon? Real moonshine you are not.
May 23, 2017 @ 9:13 am
Was at George Jones place and wanted a bottle of White Lightning. Gift shop does not sell. Where can I get this??
August 11, 2017 @ 11:20 am
does anyone know where to buy ?
February 22, 2018 @ 11:06 am
Love the Apple Pie White Lightning – can this be purchased in Michigan? Can this be ordered on line? Is it still available?