Copper Pot
In Appalachian and Southern speech, a "copper pot" (or "copper pot still") is the classic piece of equipment used to distill moonshine. It’s the symbol of backwoods whiskey-making - prized for its heat control and clean liquor.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'copper pot' used plenty down here. Also - Chester! Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'copper pot' used plenty down here. Also - Chester! Pronunciation
[KOP-er POT]
Meaning & Usage
- A copper still used for distilling moonshine (noun/equipment)
Mae:
This the old still?
This the old still?
Earl:
Yep - a copper pot we’ve had for decades.
Yep - a copper pot we’ve had for decades.- The traditional moonshine-making style (noun/dialect)
Mae:
Why’s it taste so clean?
Why’s it taste so clean?
Earl:
Copper pot gives a smoother run than steel.
Copper pot gives a smoother run than steel.variations: copper still
★ Copper’s the metal of choice for moonshiners because it heats evenly and reacts with sulfur compounds, making a cleaner, smoother liquor. Seeing a "copper pot" in a holler is shorthand for real-deal shine. ★
Origin and Etymology
From the traditional distilling method using copper pot stills, which came to Appalachia with Scotch-Irish settlers. Copper pots became iconic during the 19th and 20th centuries for homemade whiskey production in the hills.
Usage Notes
Still used today by legal craft distilleries and home distillers. Outside the South/Appalachia it’s known as a "pot still," but "copper pot" is the everyday term in mountain talk.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "copper pot." Often with "still": "copper pot still."