double run
Moonshine that went through the still a second time.
Also called double-run, twice-run.
Updated September 21, 2026
double run pronunciation
/DUH-buhl RUN/
Meaning
Liquor distilled twice so it comes out cleaner and stronger than a single pass. First run gives you rough low wines (singlings). Second run burns off more junk and raises the proof. Around a still, calling a jar a double run is a compliment, not a map note.
How folks use it
- “That batch ain't harsh at all. It's a double run.”
- “He won't sell single-run shine. Says folks pay for a double run.”
Origin and etymology
Comes from Southern and Appalachian moonshining talk. Distillers learned early that running the first distillate back through the still made smoother, higher-proof whiskey. Oral histories and shine glossaries still use "double run" for that second pass. A Georgia town called Double Run got its name from a railroad junction, but porch talk about a jar almost always means the liquor, not the tracks.
Frequently asked questions
Is a double run the same as using a thumper?
Related idea, different hardware. A thumper (or doubler) can redistill in one setup. A double run often means you collected the first run, then put it back through the still on purpose.