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Moonshiners Season 11 Episode 15 features distiller and entrepreneur Danielle Parton, who discussed her family’s long history with moonshine on the Discovery show.
Danielle has now launched her own line of moonshine and describes the line as “a culmination” of her unique family heritage. In an Instagram post, she wrote:
“The Parton legacy includes a little bit of everything. We are superstars, dirt-poor mountain folks bootlegging to support their families, law enforcement, and even commercial & military pilots (that’s me!)”
What do you think about the team of Danielle Parton x Mark x Digger? #Moonshiners at 8PM on @Discovery and @discoveryplus https://t.co/mJGWJun6Be pic.twitter.com/syTGQ0jysl
— Moonshiners (@MoonshinersTV) February 10, 2022Who is Danielle Parton?
Danielle was the first female in her family to earn a college degree and after she graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1998 with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, she began her career as a flight attendant.
After this, Danielle joined the Air National Guard as a pilot, and she is currently the Chief of Public Affairs at the 118th Wing. In 2012, Danielle became an Aircraft Commander and has operated the C-130 and C-5 aircraft around the world and in combat.
What does someone do after all that? “Make my own line of unaged whiskey, of course!” is Danielle’s response on her website.
Yes, she is related to Dolly Parton
Moonshine distilling runs in the family and the story begins with Papaw Lee Parton, who was known to make “a little Shine” to help support his family.
Dolly Parton, one of the most famous country singers in the world, was the fourth child out of 12 kids, whilst Danielle’s father, Bobby, was number five. This makes Dolly Parton Danielle’s aunt. The family connections go even deeper as Danielle’s mother, Doris Noland Parton, was best friends with Danielle’s Aunt Stella growing up.
Danielle has explained that her Uncle Dale Noland is her primary moonshine making partner, and said that the two of them “work pretty well together.” She writes on her website: “After some trial and error, we now know what side of the kitchen we both need to stay on while distilling.”
All about Danielle’s moonshine range
Danielle has launched her own line of moonshine called “Shine Girl,” which comes in a gorgeous clear bottle with a pink label. The drink was “created by and with women in mind.” Danielle’s theory is that if women will drink it, men will buy it!
Although she is inspired by her family’s role in the moonshine industry, Danielle wanted to make sure to put her own spin on her alcohol line, and said:
“When I decided to try my hand at making shine, I decided I wanted to include what my ancestors did but also put my own twist on things. I love using honey, sugar, or molasses instead of corn and in addition to corn.”
While the drink is not yet available to buy, you can shop on the Shine Girls website for t-shirts, mugs, and long-sleeved shirts.
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