Sorghum Whiskey

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Originally Posted by cowdery

I don't recall what they used to press the stalks.

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Check out this page:

http://www.therippertons.com/pages/tennessee.html

Scroll down to the fifth row of pics, right hand side.

This also relied on mule power.

I remember as a kid visiting family down in Alabama and eating sorghum with bisquits at breakfast.
Also we went to see sorghum making down there once, saw the mule going around in a circle while a man fed in the corn stalks.
My family always had gallon pails of the stuff, they looked like the same kind that paint comes in.

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Originally Posted by cowdery

...I don't recall what they used to press the stalks. What I do remember is the large cookpot. The stirring was done by a mule who dragged a large comb around the pot...

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Here's a pic of one similar to those I've seen the local Amish use, only theirs sits vertically and also is turned by either a mule or horse, as you describe the pot comb above:
Attachment 5794

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Originally Posted by CorvallisCracker

Check out this page:

http://www.therippertons.com/pages/tennessee.html

Scroll down to the fifth row of pics, right hand side.

This also relied on mule power.

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That picture reminds me that they did refer to the raw material as "cane," which confused me as first, until I realized it was sorghum. Tim's picture also looks familiar. I remember the pile of spend stalks, which I think they may have been using to feed the fire.