For the second year in a row, Short Mountain Distillery's Shine, Tennessee Moonshine, has won a gold medal with The Beverage Tasting Institute. Short Mountain Apple Pie went home with a silver medal.

"We have taken our place as a top shelf moonshine in our category. There are lots of novelty moonshines on the market. The government does not regulate the word moonshine, so the producers can put anything they want into a bottle and call it moonshine. Here at Short Mountain Distillery, we make an authentic Cannon County moonshine recipe that we keep true to the original formula. It's the real deal," said Billy Kaufman, president.

"Good shine speaks for itself," says Josh Smotherman, master distiller. Josh has won 5 medals since the distillery opened in 2012.

The distillery plans to open for a new season of tour early this April. There will be music, a new stage, new products and some surprise visitors.

Here's how the judges rated the two beverages:

Short Mountain Moonshine
Clear. Aroma of vanilla yogurt nuts and raisins, hominy, corn silk, with a penetrating fruity sweet medium-to-full body and a long, warming sweet baking spice, dried fruit, white toffee, corn pudding, and cigar ash finish.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
RATING: 90 points (Exceptional)
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 52.5%
CATEGORY: Moonshine Corn Whiskey, Whisky
TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
TASTING DATE: Feb-26-2014


Short Mountain Apple Pie Tennessee Moonshine
Golden amber color. Attractive aromas of apple butter, custard tart, and fresh baklava with a silky fruity medium body and a sweet apple cider, honey, and vanilla and coconut milk finish. Very tasty.
International Review of Spirits Award: Silver Medal
RATING: 87 points (Highly Recommended)
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 20.0%
CATEGORY: Flavored Whiskey, Whisky
TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
TASTING DATE: Feb-25-2014