Museum partners with Black Mountain distillery for a taste of local history
‘The Highlands in the Valley: Whiskey History and Tasting at Oak & Grist’ offers Insight into Appalachian tradition
Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
September 23, 2026
A postcard depicts an 80-gallon moonshine still in the heart of the Appalachians. The history of distilling spirits and its impact on WNC culture will be the subject of “The Highlands in the Valley: Whiskey History and Tasting at Oak & Grist,” Sept. 24. Photo courtesy of SVM
For many, the stereotypes assigned to the Scots Irish settlers and their descendants in the Appalachian Mountains prevail well into the 21st century. While the image of a drunken moonshiner persists, it is a caricature that paints an incomplete picture of a craft and culture that came to the region in the early 1700s.
The real history of the distilling and distributing spirits locally is lengthy and nuanced, and will be the subject of “The Highlands in the Valley: Whiskey History and Tasting at Oak & Grist,” beginning at 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 24. The event, a partnership between the Black Mountain distillery and the Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center, will feature guest speaker, Dr. Daniel S. Pierce, Professor Emeritus of History at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.
Tickets for the 90-minute historical presentation and whiskey tasting are $40 for general admission, $30 for SVM members, and available at swannanoavalleymuseum.org. The price includes quarter-ounce pours of two of Oak & Grist’s core whiskeys and two from special release bottles.
The discussion will be led by Pierce, a self-described “professional hillbilly” and longtime Swannanoa Valley resident. The graduate of Western Carolina University, with a master’s degree in history from the University of Alabama and Ph.D. of History from the University of Tennessee has taught classes in Appalachian and Southern History, the Civil War, Writing and History and Environmental History. His research focuses on the histories of the Great Smoky Mountains, Southern Appalachian region, moonshining, and NASCAR.
Partnering with Oak & Grist as a venue for the event is a “natural fit,” according to SVM interim Assistant Director Paul Cato.
“Part of our community outreach is working with local businesses to present programming that highlights the history of the Valley, in a way that reflects what those businesses are doing,” Cato said. “So we’re excited to partner with Oak & Grist for this unique event.”
Established in 2015, the distillery represents a new generation, informed by the traditions of Scotland and inspired by those of Appalachia, of spirits made from scratch. Oak & Grist brews, ferments, distills and ages whiskey made from local grains.
Oak & Grist Distilling Co. will offer a modern venue for a historical presentation on the history of moonshine in the mountains, Sept. 24, when the Black Mountain business partners with the Swannanoa Valley Museum to host “The Highlands in the Valley: Whiskey History and Tasting.” Photo by Fred McCormick
The modern setting will host an informative presentation on the craft, which many in the mountains relied upon for revenue to support their families, pay bills and sometimes save to establish legal businesses. The practice of bootlegging, which involved the transportation of illegal spirits, inspired generations throughout the 20th century to equip automobiles with sufficient horsepower to outrun authorities, leading to a culture that heavily influenced the incorporation of NASCAR in 1948.
“Dr. Pierce, as an expert in distilling, moonshine and NASCAR, and how the histories of those things come together, was kind enough to agree to come and speak,” Cato said. “It will be fun and educational, but we’re really leaning into the fun.”
The event is designed to make local history accessible to a wider audience while strengthening relationships with Swannanoa Valley businesses, he added.
“We are always looking for ways to meet people where the live and give them opportunities to connect with local history,” Cato said. “SVM relies on the support of the community and we’re always looking for community partners.”