‘Moonshiners’ Season 15 Brings Bold New Risks—Meet the Cast Keeping Tradition Alive

At the start of the new year, longtime fans of the Discovery Channel hit series Moonshiners tuned in for the show’s fifteenth season, and what we’ve seen so far in the first few episodes already has us hooked.

The series first debuted back in 2011, introducing viewers to the folks who continue the bygone practice of producing moonshine, largely in the Appalachian region of the United States. This practice has ties back to the Whiskey Rebellion, and today, the faces we’ve come to know on Moonshiners continue the custom.

“As pressures spread beyond Appalachia, Canada sees a fresh demand for tariff-free liquor. With a bold, cross-border bootlegging operation, the likes of which has not been seen since Prohibition, longtime legal distiller Tim Smith crosses back to the outlaw side to chase a massive profit,” explains the show’s official logline. “Meanwhile, a close-call brush with the law leaves Mark and Digger hesitant to return to their rebellious ways. With the help of long-time bootlegger JB, they find out what it takes to rebuild their operation from the ground up.”

Over the course of the show, fans have been introduced to countless individuals who have been involved in the world of moonshine for years, including folks like Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton. Now, in Season 15, the tradition continues with faces both new and familiar. Here, take a look at the Moonshiners cast bringing this show to life.

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Tim

Tim Smith comes from a long line of moonshiners, and despite going legal with his operation in Season 15, he’s back to an illegal operation alongside Tickle and Henry, as tariff-free liquor in Canada is in demand and the opportunity to earn big presents itself. 

“Moonshiners, I’ve grown up in it my entire life. Yes, it’s heritage and that kind of thing. At the same time, it’s about making money. Yes, we try to make the best quality product. We sell our product on taste. I went legal 14 years ago, and it has been a challenge. It has been very hard to make money, really,” Smith explained to TV Guide. “By the time you get done with everyone sticking their hands in the pot, the guy that actually made the moonshine, they don’t get too much. It’s not just the taxes. It’s everyone getting the product on the shelf. So, when opportunity comes like a dry county comes up or shuts down, that’s when a moonshiner goes to work. We’re looking at Canada as an opportunity and a dry country. When the taxes hit, people can’t afford it. So, they’re going to go to the next best thing. As moonshiners, we’re always looking at that opportunity. It looks like a great opportunity here.”

Tickle

Steven Ray Tickle, known by most as Tickle, has been a fixture on Moonshiners since Season 1, and 14 seasons later, he’s still carrying on the tradition. This season, Tickle, Tim and Henry have joined forces for their Canadian business opportunity. 

Mark

Mark Ramsey is another veteran moonshiner who actually worked closely with Popcorn Sutton. After he and Digger had a run-in with the law in the last season, this time around, he’s focused on keeping a low profile. 

Digger

Another moonshiner who worked closely with master moonshiner Popcorn Sutton, Digger is committed to innovation and quality, working closely with Mark. 

Josh

This season, Josh Owens is evolving his recipe while recovering from a serious motorcycle accident.

Henry

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Henry Law is another moonshiner who comes from a long line of folks in this line of work, and this season, he’s also in on the Canadian operation. 

J.B. Rader

J.B. has also been on the scene for years, and this season, he’s guiding Mark and Digger as they take a slow and steady approach. “You know J.B. has been our friend forever and for years. We know that J.B. doesn’t have a mean bone in his body. He loves us. We know that. He would never tell us anything to hurt us. He also won’t pull any punches with us,” Mark told TV Insider. “When he tells us something, he means it. We either listen to it or we don’t. That is where we are with him. His counsel is well respected.”

Where and when to watch Moonshiners

Catch new episodes of Moonshiners on the Discovery Channel on Tuesdays at 8 p.m.