Whiskey Distillation in the Shenandoah Valley

Although homemade liquor was commonly made and sold locally in the Shenandoah Valley before 1916, federal prohibition made it much more difficult to continue distributing it throughout the area. Local distillers began to create competition with law enforcement to appease local buyers’ desires (also known as bootlegging). The area’s small population and natural cover helped bootlegging continue well into the 1950s. Popular locations for distilleries included the Bull Run, Short Hill, and Blue Ridge mountains. One of the most frequented places in these areas was the Broad Run Tollhouse near Route 7; this popularity was due to the fact that every vehicle had to stop there to pay a toll until 1924 (Scheel).

Written by Callista Mayberry, 2023