Amos Owens
Amos Owens | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | 1906 |
| Occupation(s) | Moonshine producer, businessman |
| Known for | Producing "cherry bounce" whiskey infusion |
Amos Owens (circa 1822 – 1906), famously dubbed The Cherry Bounce King, was a leading producer of moonshine in Rutherford County, North Carolina during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Descended from Irish ancestors, his grandfather participated in the Battle of King's Mountain amid the American Revolutionary War. Owens became renowned for crafting a unique whiskey infusion combining honey and cherries, drawing patrons from throughout the Southern United States. At the height of its demand, his "cherry bounce" was distributed as far west as the Mississippi River.
Early life
Owens was born around 1822 in North Carolina and received little formal schooling. Beginning at age nine, he worked for thirteen years performing tasks such as fetching water and chopping wood. By the time he was 23, he had saved enough to purchase 100 acres on Cherry Mountain. Shortly thereafter, he married Mary Ann Sweezey, compensating the justice of the peace with brandy. By age 29, Owens had acquired ownership of the entire Cherry Mountain area, where he established his permanent residence.
During this era, he formulated his well-known "cherry bounce," a spirit blending corn whiskey with cherries and either sourwood honey or sugar water.
Civil War years
During the Civil War, Owens enlisted in the Confederate Army, participating in battles including the Second Battle of Bull Run as part of the 56th North Carolina Regiment. He was captured and confined in Union prisons but returned home resolute in opposing the federal excise tax on distilled spirits reinstated in 1862.
Post-Civil War years
After the war, Owens organized annual June festivities that featured abundant food and unlimited cherry bounce available for a quarter. These gatherings included activities such as boxing matches, dancing, and gander pulling. His cherry bounce grew in popularity across the Southeastern region, reaching bartenders aboard Mississippi River paddle steamers traveling between Cincinnati and New Orleans.
To avoid detection by IRS agents conducting raids, Owens employed a telescope to monitor their approach; despite these efforts, he was apprehended multiple times. Over more than five decades of distilling, he served three terms in federal prison and faced four legal trials related to illicit distillation. His final court appearance at age sixty-eight likely signaled the conclusion of his distilling endeavors.