When Popcorn Sutton passed away in 2006, people never thought they would see another legendary moonshiner like Sutton. But in the span of a few years, as the moonshine industry continued to go, JB Rader stepped up as one of the new generation-defining moonshiners. One of the best moonshiners, Rader may be old but he knows how to prepare a good moonshine. He is considered a legend in the world of moonshine, and one good sip of his moonshine is enough to tell you why. In this article, we will take a closer look at the wiki-bio of JB Rader.
Who indeed is JB Radar?
JB Radar Moonshiner is a star of the Discovery Channel show ‘Moonshiners’, which follows the production of high-proof distilled spirits in the Appalachian Mountains. He is considered a legend in Appalachia because he learned the art of moonshine making from the master Popcorn Sutton and has never been caught by the law. He also has a country song about him called ‘The Legend JB Rader’ by Chad Triplett. He is currently working with a North Carolina distillery to produce a line of moonshines, including a Honeycrisp Apple Moonshine.
How old is JB Rader?
Jacob B Rader was born in Tennessee, United States on April 23, 1953. The birthdate makes him 70 years old. Rader was born with a Taurus sign and is said to possess the trait of being hardworking, strenuous, and very committed to goals, and ambitions according to the zodiac reading. Rader is American by nationality and belongs to the Caucasian ethnicity.
Rise to fame:
Little is known about Rader’s early life save for the fact he grew up in Parrottsville, Tennessee, and enrolled at Parrottsville High School.
Akin to most moonshiners, Rader has spent most of his life hiding from the authorities. Even though Rader gained nationwide recognition following his appearances in the reality TV series Moonshiners, it was not his first TV appearance. Before Moonshiners, Rader made appearances in three documentaries that documented the life of Popcorn Sutton. The first movie entitled “This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I’ll Ever Make” was released in 2002, “The Last One” was released in 2008, and “Popcorn Sutton: A Hell of a Life” was released in 2014.
Over the years, Rader’s fame grew so much that he had a song written about him. Singer/songwriter, Chad Triplett wrote a song honoring the legacy of Sutton while also praising the works of Rader.
Television Career:
Moonshiners:
Already established in the world of Moonshiners, Rader grew his stature in the world of reality television. He made his debut on the reality TV show Moonshiners in 2015 and followed with many more appearances. Leading up to 2020, Rader had made 28 episode appearances. In 2020, he also featured in the spin-off Moonshiners: Master Distiller. Rader added more television credits during season 11 which premiered on October 31, 2021. On S11 E02 “Holy Grail of Moonshine,” Rader is seen leading Mark and Digger to the secret site of Popcorn Sutton’s infamous last run. Moonshiners is on its twelfth season currently airing on Discovery network.
Laying down Sutton:
When Popcorn Sutton left the world in 2006, he mentioned Rader and a few of his friends in his final wishes. Those were the only people who were allowed to attend the funeral of Popcorn Sutton. The will reads,
“In burying my bodily remains, Mark Wayne Ramsey [of the Newport fire department] shall request the assistance of Big Dave Strange, J.B. Rader, Cookie Wood, and Gary Frost. Said persons are directed to engage in the consumption of intoxicating beverages during my burial. No other persons shall be allowed to assist in or attend my burial.”
Sutton and Rader shared a special relationship and Rader learned most of the tricks of the trade during his time with Sutton. The pair met when Sutton randomly walked into the store and asked Rader to come to watch the distillery. While Rader was there to just watch, he ended up working as Sutton’s assistant.
Laying Low:
One of the most interesting things about Rader is that he has never been arrested by law enforcement agencies. He lives a minimalistic lifestyle, which has been a trademark for Rader. An easy-going guy, Rader still loves to have a drink now and then.
Pairing up with a local distillery:
In 2019, South Mountain Distilling Co paired up with JB Rader to produce a new line of moonshines. The owner, Don Smith, met Rader through mutual friends and Rader came down to the distillery to teach his techniques for making moonshine. As Smith revealed,
“We showed J.B. our facility here at South Mountain Distilling Co. and let him try all of our spirits. He was impressed with the quality of products that we produced, especially our Jasper’s Shine. After sampling, we proceeded to talk some business, and after a couple of weeks working out the details, we came to an agreement.”
The team’s very first collaboration project is the J.B. Rader’s Special Edition Honeycrisp Apple Moonshine. While Rader could not stay in the distillery, he did mention that he would come down twice or thrice a year to see if everything is being done right.
Personal Life:
J.B. Rader is a current resident of Parrottsville, Tennessee. And in his late 60s, Rader has more than to look back on his life than just as a Moonshiner. While his pursuit to produce and distill alcoholic beverages, particularly whiskey, would lead him to do the job in a clandestine or hidden manner, often at night by the light of the moon, he did not entirely live a loner’s life. J. B. Raider got married and grew a family of his own. However, he has kept the details of his family away from the spotlight.
Net Worth:
J.B. Rader makes his money as reality television actor Moonshiner however the exact account of his wealth is not made public.
Wiki/Bio facts:
| Birth Name | Jacob B Rader |
| Other Name | J.B. Rader |
| Birthdate | April 23, 1953 |
| Age | 70 years old |
| Birth Place | Tennessee, United States |
| Resident | Parrottsville, Tennessee, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Parents | N/A |
| Siblings | N/A |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Zodiac | Taurus |
| Gender | Male |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Wife | N/A |
| Children | N/A |
| High School | Parrottsville High School |
| Profession | Moonshiner, Reality Television Actor |
| Net Worth | N/A |
| Height | N/A |
| Weight | N/A |
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