Sorghum Whiskey

[CorvallisCracker]

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

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.

[OscarV]

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.

[TNbourbon]

...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...

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:
sorghum.jpg

[cowdery]

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.

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.