Backins

In Southern and Appalachian moonshining, backins refers to the weak, low-proof whiskey collected at the end of a distillation run. It is not prime drinking liquor and was traditionally saved for reuse or rerunning rather than consumed.

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synonyms: weak whiskey, late run, low-proof liquor

Hillbilly Dude Says...

We never run no 'shine, so 'backins' wasn't a topic of conversation growin' up.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

We never run no 'shine, so 'backins' wasn't a topic of conversation growin' up.

Pronunciation

[BACK-ee-yuhns]
/ˈbæk.i.jənz/

Meaning & Usage

- Weak whiskey collected at the end of a run (noun, plural)

Earl:

That’s about all she’s got left.

Mae:

Yeah - them’s just backins. Set ’em aside.

variations: backings

★ Backins weren’t meant for drinkin’. They were kept to stretch the next run or boost yield, not flavor. ★

Origin and Etymology

The term developed within Southern Appalachian distilling culture, where practical language described each stage of a run. As alcohol strength dropped near the end of distillation, the remaining output became known as backins - liquor that came off after the good whiskey was already taken. The spoken form reflects regional pronunciation rather than standardized spelling.

Usage Notes

Backins were commonly collected at the end of a run or after a pass through a thumper, when proof fell too low for quality whiskey. Rather than being discarded, they were often saved and added back into a future mash or rerun to avoid waste.

Always low proof and inferior to drinking whiskey.
Often saved and reused rather than consumed.
Distinct from foreshots (early) and hearts (main run).
Most often referenced in the plural form.

Kin Topics

Common Questions

Are backins drinkable?

Traditionally, no. They’re weak and not considered good whiskey.

Are backins the same as tails?

No. Backins come later and are usually weaker than tails.

Why were backins saved?

To stretch the next run or increase yield, not for taste.

Is this term used outside moonshining?

Rarely. It’s specific to Southern Appalachian distilling talk.

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, December 15). Backins. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/backins
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Backins." HillbillySlang.com, 15 Dec. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/backins.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Backins." HillbillySlang.com. December 15, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/backins.