He Finally Reveals It: The Moonshiners Slip-Up That Almost Ended His Entire Career
For decades, Eric “Digger” Manes has been one of the most recognizable faces in America’s underground world of moonshining. With his quick wit, Tennessee drawl, and old-school charm, Digger has become a fan favorite on Discovery Channel’s hit series Moonshiners. But behind the laughter, camaraderie, and bubbling stills, there’s a story Digger rarely tells — the one about a single mistake that nearly cost him everything.
A Legacy Built in Smoke and Secrecy
Digger’s roots in the craft go deep. Born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains, he learned the art of distilling from a long line of old-timers who treated moonshining as both a science and a calling. “It’s in our blood,” Digger once said. “You learn to make whiskey before you learn to drive.”
When Moonshiners first hit television screens, it pulled back the curtain on a world most people only heard about in whispers — the hidden stills, late-night runs, and the delicate dance between tradition and the law. Digger, alongside his partner Mark Ramsey, quickly became the heart of the show: two men who embodied both heritage and humor.
But success, as Digger would discover, has a price.
The Day It All Went Wrong
In a recent behind-the-scenes confession, Digger admitted to a mistake that nearly ended his moonshining career — and possibly much more. “It was supposed to be a simple run,” he recalled. “We’d done it a hundred times before. But that night, something was off.”
As the story goes, a bad batch of mash and a miscalculation in the still’s pressure almost caused a catastrophic explosion. “The temperature spiked, and before we knew it, the lines were hissing,” Digger said. “If Mark hadn’t been there to cut the heat, we could’ve lost the whole rig — or worse.”
It wasn’t just the physical danger that haunted him. The incident drew unwanted attention from local authorities, and for a brief moment, it looked like the Moonshiners legend might come to an abrupt end. “I thought, ‘Well, this is it,’” Digger confessed. “After all these years, one mistake and it’s over.”
A Hard Lesson in Humility
The near-disaster became a turning point. Digger, who had always prided himself on precision, realized that even experience couldn’t replace caution. “We got comfortable,” he admitted. “And comfort’s the enemy when you’re working with something that can blow sky-high.”
The scare pushed him to rethink how he approached his craft. Safety protocols were tightened, equipment was upgraded, and even the old-timers’ traditional methods were re-evaluated. “There’s a fine line between tradition and stubbornness,” Digger said. “We learned you can honor the past without repeating its mistakes.”
Rebuilding, Refining, and Redemption
Rather than stepping back, Digger doubled down — not just on moonshining, but on storytelling. Season after season, he’s turned his past mistakes into lessons for younger shiners. “We don’t hide the bad days,” he said. “Because that’s what makes the good ones worth it.”
The brush with disaster also deepened his bond with Mark Ramsey. “We’ve always had each other’s backs,” Mark said in an interview. “That night reminded us that this isn’t just business. It’s brotherhood.”
Since then, the duo’s partnership has only grown stronger. Together, they’ve created some of the most creative and high-proof recipes in Moonshiners history — from smoky Tennessee corn whiskey to apple brandy that could make a preacher blush.
Still Standing Strong
Now in his late 50s, Digger remains both a craftsman and a showman, balancing the fine line between outlaw and entertainer. He laughs when people call him a legend, but he doesn’t deny the weight of the title. “A legend just means you’ve made enough mistakes to have stories to tell,” he joked.
Looking back, Digger calls that near-fatal night both his “worst mistake” and “greatest teacher.”
“If that still had gone, I wouldn’t be here talking about it,” he said. “It scared me straight — reminded me that every drop we make carries risk, history, and pride.”
For the man who’s turned backwoods whiskey into TV gold, it’s clear: the fire in Digger Manes’ belly still burns just as strong — only now, a little wiser.
