Kings Of Shine: Louisiana Brothers Bring A New Twist To The Moonshine Game

By Christi Landry

October 28, 2021 735 Views
 

(New Iberia, LA) — When you sit down with Louisiana natives Richard and Craig Landry, it’s easy to see these brothers know a thing or two about flavor.

Sitting outside in Craig Landry’s backyard among trees providing shade from under the warm October sun, the two chat incessantly about spice blends, fruits, and flavor combinations.

“It’s just something about the sweetness of cotton candy that just works,” Craig Landry said.

“I know. It’s a classic,” Richard Landry responded. “And I meant to tell you about these apples I had earlier this week. They were really tart. I know we can put that up against something to balance it out real nice.”

An unsuspecting listener might think the duo are chefs developing their next menu. While they don’t whip up delicious dishes, they cook up something a lot more exciting and a lot more potent.

The brothers are cast members of Discovery Channel’s hit show, Moonshiners. The show — in its 11th season — follows career moonshiners who continue the centuries-old tradition of distilling high-proof spirits.

The road to Moonshiners for the Landrys began a decade ago when Richard Landry decided to try his hand at distilling spirits at home. As an avid fan of the Moonshiners series and never one to shy away from a challenge, he decided to try his hand at the distilling process. Armed with a handmade still and a firm curiosity of melding different flavors, he began developing his own blends.

“It wasn’t just something I jumped into on a whim. I researched the process to understand the science behind it,” he said. “I had some hits and some misses in the beginning, but overall, I just really enjoyed doing it. It just took off from there.”

Over the years, Richard Landry perfected his craft, creating spirits known for their intense flavors. In 2019, his world changed when he got the call to be a cast member on the Moonshiners spinoff, Master Distiller. The show pitted him against a third-generation moonshiner and a biochemist working at a distillery. It didn’t take long for him to feel like a fish out of water.

“I remember walking on that set and thinking to myself, ‘What have I gotten myself into,’” he said. “But I put my fear aside and enjoyed the process. I made friends with the other competitors, and I focused on distilling a good product.”

Thanks to his recipe that yielded a flavorful, bold Cherry Bounce, Richard Landry’s blend came out on top, and he was named Master Distiller. Word spread quickly about the man the judges dubbed “The Spice King.” His trademark blend of Southern charm and uncanny knack for understanding the science of flavors made him an overnight sensation. And when he least expected it, he was tapped to join the cast of Moonshiners officially.

Once he got over his disbelief, the moment sank in.

“I never thought in a million years that something like this could happen,” he said. “I watched every season of Moonshiners and was a huge fan of the cast. To get the opportunity to work with the people I look up to was more than I ever hoped for.”

When it came time to pick a still hand for the show, Richard Landry looked no further than his younger brother, Craig Landry. The two worked together over the years, pouring over complex recipes and developing ideas for new products. By the end of 2020, the Landry brothers made their debut on Moonshiners, bringing the show to the winding bayous of Southwest Louisiana.

In their first episode together, the brothers made a manglier tea moonshine, a nod to the tea made from the leaves of the native Louisiana tree believed to have medicinal properties. The two added their own spin to make the normally bitter tea a tasty liquor that packed a mean punch.

“For us, manglier was something we grew up with,” Craig Landry said. “We were proud to get the chance to share our heritage with the world and bring a taste of Louisiana to the show.”

They quickly established themselves as flavor experts during their time on the show, conceptualizing spirits punctuated by vibrant and unusual flavors. Nostalgia led them to create a sweet and fun cotton candy rum. A desire to experiment with sweet potatoes resulted in a sweet potato liquor highlighted by cranberries, Carolina Gold grain, and malted barley.

Their unique flavors and scientific breakdown of backwoods moonshine proved to be hit, and their popularity exploded.

“We just have fun with it. Using the flavors we grew up with as a basis to create unexpected flavors, is fun. People don’t expect it, but they love it,” Richard Landry said.

While the two continue to push the bounds of tastes and flavors, the impact of their participation is not lost on them. The two are the first African American shiners featured in the show’s history. It’s not a sentiment lost on either brother.

Recently, Richard Landry traveled to Tennessee, where he met a fan who shook hands and took photos with him. The young African American man later posted about their time on Facebook, noting that he was proud to see someone who looked like him on the groundbreaking show.

“That moment let me know the work we do isn’t just about the liquor we create,” Richard Landry said. “It’s bigger than that. It’s about showing people that no matter who you are, you can shine. And I’m so blessed to have this experience.”

Moonshiners airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. EST on Discovery Channel and streams on Discovery .

Christi Landry is a Senior Editor at NOIRE.

 
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Christi Landry
NOIRE Senior Editor