Sugarlands Mark & Digger Mountain Legacy Corn Moonshine 750ML

Sugarlands Mark & Digger Mountain Legacy Corn Moonshine 750ML is a 120-proof (60% ABV) unaged corn whiskey produced in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, in a 750ml bottle. This high-octane moonshine draws its recipe from generations of Appalachian distilling tradition, brought to modern production by Mark Ramsey and Eric "Digger" Manes — real-life moonshiners known from the Discovery Channel series Moonshiners.

Quick Facts: ABV: 60% (120 Proof)  |  Origin: Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA  |  Unaged Corn Whiskey  |  Distillery: Sugarlands Distilling Company

Production & Heritage

Sugarlands Distilling Company operates in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, at the doorstep of the Great Smoky Mountains — a region with deep roots in illicit distilling stretching back centuries. Mountain Legacy uses a traditional corn-heavy mash bill made with Tennessee-sourced corn, distilled and bottled without any barrel aging to preserve the raw, uncut character of classic Appalachian moonshine. The recipe was developed by Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes, who have stated they spent years perfecting it based on techniques learned from veteran backwoods distillers throughout the region.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Fresh sweet corn dominates the nose immediately, followed by warm toasted grains and a distinct note of buttered popcorn. A faint caramelized sugar sweetness emerges as the spirit opens up in the glass.

Taste: The entry is bold and fiery, with raw corn sweetness hitting the palate first before giving way to a mid-palate of fresh cornbread and lightly earthy, grainy notes. At 120 proof, the intensity is substantial — the corn flavor remains the through-line, sweet and slightly vegetal, with a caramelized quality that builds toward the peak.

Finish: The finish is clean but carries significant warmth, as expected from an unaged spirit at this proof. A lingering sweetness and faint smoky undertone stay on the palate, with the corn character persisting well after each sip.

How to Drink Mountain Legacy

Given its 120-proof intensity, many drinkers benefit from a few drops of water or a single large ice cube to open up the corn sweetness without drowning the spirit's character. Sipping neat rewards those who appreciate raw, unaged grain spirits in their purest form. For cocktails, Mountain Legacy's high proof and sweet corn backbone make it a powerful mixing base: try it in a Moonshine Mule where the corn sweetness plays against ginger beer and lime; in a Corn Old Fashioned with a barspoon of honey syrup and orange bitters to highlight its grainy depth; or in a Mountain Lemonade — a simple combination with fresh lemonade that tames the proof while showcasing the spirit's natural sweetness.

Best For

• Fans of the Moonshiners television series looking for an authentic tie-in spirit
• Home cocktail enthusiasts seeking a high-proof, flavorful mixing base
• Collectors of Appalachian and Tennessee craft spirits
• Adventurous whiskey drinkers exploring unaged corn whiskey at full strength

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Mountain Legacy taste like? Mountain Legacy delivers bold, sweet corn flavor with toasted grain and cornbread notes, followed by a fiery, warming finish typical of high-proof unaged corn whiskey.

How does Mountain Legacy compare to Mellow Corn? Mellow Corn is a bonded (100-proof) corn whiskey that sees at least four years of barrel aging, giving it a mellower, slightly oaky character, while Mountain Legacy is unaged and 20 proof points higher, resulting in a rawer, more intensely corn-forward experience with no wood influence.

Is Mountain Legacy good for cocktails? Its 120-proof strength and pronounced corn sweetness make it an excellent cocktail base, as it holds its flavor even when diluted by ice and mixers in drinks like mules, sours, and lemonades.

Where is Mountain Legacy made? Mountain Legacy is produced and bottled by Sugarlands Distilling Company in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, located at the edge of Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a region historically associated with moonshine production.

What foods pair well with Mountain Legacy? Smoked pulled pork complements the corn sweetness; sharp cheddar cheese provides a savory counterpoint to the grain character; cornbread with honey butter echoes the spirit's core flavors; grilled peaches bring out its caramelized sugar notes; and spicy fried chicken stands up to the high proof.

What sizes does Mountain Legacy come in? Mountain Legacy is available in the standard 750ml bottle size.

Is Mountain Legacy worth the price? Mountain Legacy positions in the mid-range tier for craft moonshine, and its 120-proof strength means a bottle goes further in mixed drinks than lower-proof alternatives, adding practical value beyond the novelty of its Moonshiners television pedigree.

Why Mountain Legacy?

What separates Mountain Legacy from the crowded field of commercial moonshines is its direct lineage to actual Appalachian distilling tradition — Mark Ramsey and Digger Manes didn't simply lend their names to a product; they developed the recipe from techniques passed down by backwoods producers in the Tennessee mountains. At 120 proof, this is not a watered-down novelty spirit; it delivers serious intensity and unapologetic corn character that reflects what high-proof unaged whiskey tastes like before any barrel or flavoring intervention. For drinkers seeking a legal moonshine that prioritizes authenticity and raw power over smoothness, Mountain Legacy earns its place as one of the more credible expressions in the category.