The Valley's First and Only Distillery 36168 State Hwy 100, Los Fresnos, TX

Moonshine in the Rio Grande Valley

Rio Grande Distillery's Founder and Master Distiller, Jerrod Leon Henry dreamed of bringing the taste of the Ozarks to his adopted home of Los Fresnos, Texas. Raised in the backwoods of Arkansas and Southern Missouri, Jerrod started bootlegging for local moonshiners at a very young age. As his education progressed, he was taught the ins and outs of the art of moonshine. Very soon, he became a master of his craft.

Together with his wife Elizabeth and partners Kathy and Larry Sallee, Jerrod founded Rio Grande Distillery in the Spring of 2020. They have worked hard to bring the Valley its first distillery. RGD really is a labor of love. From the moonshine produced in our stills to the pulled pork made in our smokers, we aim to bring you the best of Appalachian tradition, with South Texas heart and southern hospitality.

Jerrod's moonshine recipe has been perfected after hundreds and hundreds of runs of liquor, and he is now proud to produce and sell the absolute best whiskey in Texas.

Moonshine History

Moonshine, or whiskey that hasn't been barreled yet, has played a huge role in American history.

The moment the American government started to tax and control alcohol was also the moment the moonshine industry began. The term “moonshine” comes from the fact that illegal spirits were made under the light of the moon. In every part of America, early moonshiners worked their stills at night to avoid detection from authorities. In the early frontier days of American history, moonshine wasn’t a hobby: it was a part-time job.

In 1920, moonshiners across the country rejoiced: Prohibition was passed across the nation. Legal alcohol was no longer available anywhere. Overnight, illegal liquor became one of the most profitable businesses in America. Organized crime took over the moonshine business and distillers sprung up across the country to keep up with demand. Speakeasies – complete with hidden doors, passwords, and secret escape routes – could be found in every city in America. In 1933, Prohibition was repealed and the moonshine market dwindled to a shadow of its former self.

Recently, moonshine was made popular by The Discovery Channel's "Moonshiners" show.

You’re sipping on American history every time you drink moonshine!