🚨 Moonshiners’ Tickle Drops Shocking Revelation: Hidden Whiskey Stash, Family Secrets, and a Mystery That Could Change Everything… 👀🥃

In a near‑midday press conference today — held at approximately 12:30 PM local time in Pittsylvania County, Virginia — beloved and sometimes controversial reality TV star Steven Ray Tickle (widely known simply as “Tickle”) made a startling revelation that is already reverberating through the famed world of Appalachian moonshining and beyond.

At the conference, held near his hometown of Gretna, Virginia, Tickle announced that he has unearthed a massive hidden stash of whiskey‑grade moonshine, previously thought lost, and intends to use it to remake his life — but not without consequences.

Tickle, who rose to fame on the longtime hit series Moonshiners and its spin‑off Tickle, held the gathering just outside his rural barn where he disclosed the cache, saying: “I found the still, found the barrel room, and I intend to turn this around — not just for me, but for my family and the tradition.”

According to his statement, the stash was discovered last month (late October), buried in an old forestry road near the Dan River; the exact coordinates were not disclosed for legal reasons.

He described it as “hundreds of gallons” of moonshine, which he claims was crafted several years ago by a now‑retired distiller and then hidden away during a crackdown in the region.

Pressing into details, Tickle explained that he located the stash while scouting land for his fishing tackle shop — a building that served as the backdrop for his 2013 spin‑off series where he attempted to transition into legitimate business.

He said: “I walked into that old woods thinking I was looking at a property for fish and bait; instead I smelled familiar heat, familiar burn of still‑work, and I knew I’d found something big.

” The audience of reporters was visibly stunned as he produced a weathered wooden hatch and claimed to have opened it in early November, uncovering several sealed barrels and jugs still intact.

When asked whether the stash is legal, Tickle was frank: “Listen — historically, these were made when moonshine stilling was far more clandestine.

I’m not hiding from law enforcement now; I’m going to be transparent.

I’m working with distillers, attorneys, even local officials to make sure this is done right.

” He revealed he is in final negotiations with a licensed craft distillery in Virginia to re‑blend and bottle the liquid under strict compliance with state and federal laws.

He added: “What it was made for then isn’t what it’s moving into now — I’m turning it into something celebrated, not hidden.”

Tickle’s announcement also carried a personal note: he stated that his daughter and wife have long supported his decision to turn away from the troubles of his past and instead build a legacy.

“My daughter told me last night: ‘Dad, I want your name on something good.

’ And I promised her that I would deliver.

” He thanked longtime fans of Moonshiners for “supporting the lifestyle, the tradition, the story,” and asked for patience while the transition takes place.

Observers say this public revelation is a bold move for a figure whose legal and media history has been complex.

Tickle was first arrested in 2013 for public intoxication in Virginia, after being found in a car with an open container.

He was later cited for more serious offenses, including weapon possession and probation violations tied to cocaine use — events which required him to serve jail time and remain on supervision for several years.

(He addressed these issues today, saying: “I’m not running from my mistakes — I’m learning from them.

”)

Local law‑enforcement and regulatory officials in Pittsylvania County have said that they will review Tickle’s public statements and the status of the alcohol he has recovered.

A spokesperson for the county sheriff’s office told reporters that “we are aware of Mr.

Tickle’s announcement and we will determine if any regulatory or statutory compliance processes apply,” though no immediate enforcement action was announced.

Tickle himself emphasized his willingness to “co‑operate fully” and begin production under a licensed framework.

Industry experts say the announcement could mark a significant shift in how moonshine culture is reported in the media.

Moonshining in the Appalachian region has long had a storied and somewhat mythic status — the practice dramatized by Moonshiners, which aired on Discovery Channel beginning in 2011 and follows individuals making and distributing moonshine in states including Virginia.

Additionally, Tickle declared he will document the entire process on a new digital‑series platform he plans to launch in early 2026.

He said: “I want to show the honest work, the history, the craft — from the forest to the bottle.

” Bed of the documentary‑style footage will not only appeal to longtime fans, he said, but also to craft‑spirits enthusiasts seeking deeper stories of heritage.

Reactions across social media have been swift.

Fans expressed excitement at the redevelopment of the stash and the possibility of tasting a legitimately crafted spirit tied to the legend of Tickle.

Others were skeptical — pointing to the unresolved legal questions and the fact that moonshine culture has often straddled the line between folklore and regulation.

A handful of commentators recalled his previous arrests and asked whether this venture might expose him to new legal trouble.

Tickle addressed these concerns at the press conference when a reporter asked: “Mr.

Tickle, do you expect trouble with regulators given this stash was technically outside the law when it was hidden?” He replied firmly: “Look, I’m 50 years old.

I’ve learned.

I’m not hiding in the holler any more.

I’m bringing light to this — not turning away from those who watch, those who care.

I want to elevate the story, not end up back in court.

” He also mentioned he and his legal team have met with the Virginia ABC Board (Alcoholic Beverage Control) though he didn’t provide full details of the discussions.

When asked about his personal next steps, Tickle said he plans to split his time between Gretna and a still‑to‑be announced facility in Franklin County, Virginia, where the distillery partner is located.

He added he will still maintain his fishing gear shop — now re‑branded as a “heritage spirits and outdoor lifestyle” venue open to tourists and fans.

He concluded the conference with a quote that appeared on his show many years ago: “The forest gave me this.

I’m going to give it back stronger.”

Given the gravity of the announcement, industry watchers are already speculating about potential partnerships, limited‑edition releases, and the possibility of Tickle reentering televised media under a new brand of responsibility.

For Tickle himself, this appears to be a turning point: transforming from the renegade wild‑still operator dramatized on television, to a heritage craftsman seeking legitimacy.

As one attendee put it, the question now is: “Will the man who once delighted in eluding the law now become the face of legal moonshine revival?” For his fans, the stakes—and the story—have never been higher.