Production places
Connections to water sources, peat places, maltings, cooperages, warehouses and maturation sites. Uncertain connections are labelled.
No documented production places are linked to this distillery yet.
Silver Trail Distillery
Short overview of the distillery
Silver Trail Distillery in Hardin, Kentucky is a family-owned distillery that has turned moonshine into a legal and award-winning craft. Driven by Spencer Balentine, LBL Moonshine is produced on both a replica of a 1947 square pot-still and a modern 300-gallon tower still. The distillery is known for hand-ground yellow corn, natural fermentation, and a range of flavored as well as unaged variants that have won several SIP medals.
History
The history is closely tied to the Balentine family. Spencer's father Thomas was a moonshine runner in the LBL area in the 1950s, and an old family recipe and techniques have been handed down. In 1947, grandfather Casey designed a square still design, which was later confiscated and exhibited, but the family preserved it as a piece of craft history. Spencer had this still replicated for use at his own distillery. Silver Trail opened in 2011 in Marshall County and, within a few years, became a member of the Kentucky Distillers Association. In 2014 the distillery earned several awards at the SIP Awards, where both their flavored Apple Sin variants and their 100-proof unaged moonshine were recognized.
Raw materials and production
Silver Trail builds its production on food-grade yellow corn, milled in-house. The mash ferments naturally without added heat, a process that takes longer than heated fermentation but, according to the distillery, preserves more flavor. Distillation takes place on two copper stills: a replica of a 1947 square pot-still (with a twin-condenser system) and a 300-gallon Revenoor tower still. Some products, including the award-winning LBL, are produced on the Casey replica, while LBL Jr. and flavored variants are produced on the tower still. The distillery filters and strains the distillate more than many traditional moonshines to achieve a smoother corn-forward profile, and a production rate of about 1 gallon every 7 minutes at the still is noted.
Aging and barrel types
The primary range consists of unaged moonshines and flavored variants, which means traditional barrel aging is not a central part of production for these products. The focus instead lies on raw material handling, fermentation, distillation, and subsequent filtration to shape the character in the bottle.
Whiskeys
Silver Trail markets the LBL series, which includes unaged 100-proof '1950s Style' Moonshine, an 80-proof LBL Jr. variant, and several flavored editions such as Apple Sin and Apple Sin Nitro. The range covers both pure, unaged corn-spirit and fruit-flavored expressions; several of these have earned national medals, which has helped to profile the distillery since its opening.
| Whiskey | Type / Series | Alcohol | Flavor Profile | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LBL 100% Moonshine (1950s Style) | Moonshine (unaged) | 50 % | Unaged 100 proof moonshine produced using the family's Casey-designed pot-still. The base is hand-ground food-grade yellow corn, the mash ferments naturally and the distillery filters/strains more than many others to achieve a smooth corn flavor.; Flavor: Described as with a pronounced corn character and a soft finish | Current; Core Range |
| LBL Apple Sin Moonshine | Flavored Moonshine | One of the distillery's flavored variants, produced on the same base as their unaged moonshine with hand-ground yellow corn and natural fermentation. One of Silver Trail's award-winning products.; Flavor: Described as flavored with apple character and with a soft, smooth feel | Current; Core Range | |
| LBL Apple Sin Nitro | Flavored Moonshine (variant) | A variant of the Apple Sin series; documented as a SIP Awards winner. | ||
| LBL Jr 80 proof Moonshine | Moonshine (lower proof) | 40 % | 80 proof edition of the LBL series, produced on the distillery's 300-gallon tower still. Produced with the same basic principles of malting, fermentation, and filtration. | Current; Core Range |
Visiting the distillery
The distillery welcomes visitors on select days and offers guided tours. Visits should be planned in advance; you are encouraged to call for current hours and prices. In addition to the Hardin distillery, there is a museum in Aurora, Kentucky, on Highway 68 across from The Hitching Post.
Philosophy and craft
Silver Trail focuses on preserving the family's recipes and techniques from the moonshine tradition while operating within the bounds of legal production. They prioritize ingredient quality, hand-malted yellow corn, natural fermentation, and extra filtration to achieve a smoother, more drinkable moonshine.
Prizes and recognitions
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SIP Awards (2014, Platinum for LBL Apple Sin Moonshine (best in flavored whisky class), LBL Apple Sin Moonshine)
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SIP Awards (2014, Gold for LBL Apple Sin Nitro (flavored whisky class), LBL Apple Sin Nitro)
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SIP Awards (2014, Gold for LBL 100 proof '1950s Style' Moonshine (un-aged category), LBL 100% Moonshine)