White Mule
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "White Mule" is an old nickname for potent, clear moonshine - unaged corn whiskey strong enough to "kick" hard. It’s a vivid, colorful label from the heyday of mountain stills.
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'white mule' plenty, but it's not anythang I need to be involved with. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I've heard 'white mule' plenty, but it's not anythang I need to be involved with. Pronunciation
[WHYT MYOOL]
Meaning & Usage
- Potent clear corn whiskey or moonshine (noun/dialect)
Mae:
What’s in that jar?
What’s in that jar?
Earl:
That’s White Mule - kick like nothin’ else.
That’s White Mule - kick like nothin’ else.- Any high-proof unaged whiskey (noun/dialect)
Mae:
Be careful - that’s White Mule.
Be careful - that’s White Mule.variations: white lightning
★ "White Mule" carries the same imagery as "White Lightning" - the "white" for clear liquor, the "mule" for its kick. It’s a term from the backroads and hollers, signifying serious mountain whiskey. ★
Origin and Etymology
From early 20th-century Appalachian moonshine slang. "White" described the clear, unaged liquor; "mule" evoked its strength and kick. Documented in Prohibition-era raids, folk songs, and local histories across Tennessee, Kentucky, and North Carolina.
Usage Notes
Still remembered among older Southerners and in moonshine lore. Rarely used by younger people, but legal distilleries sometimes revive the name for nostalgic branding.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "white mule." Often used with pride or warning: "That’s White Mule you’re drinkin’."
Kin Topics
Related Pages
How to Cite This Page
- APA (7th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, September 12). White Mule. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/white-mule
- MLA (9th edition)"The Hillbilly Dude." "White Mule." HillbillySlang.com, 12 Sept. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/white-mule.
- Chicago (17th edition)The Hillbilly Dude. "White Mule." HillbillySlang.com. September 12, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/white-mule.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...