The Legendary Moonshiner of Rosedale, Mississippi: Perry Martin's PM Whiskey

Nestled along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River, and just a short drive from Cleveland, lies the small town of Rosedale, Mississippi. While this gritty little river town may not be on everyone's radar, it holds a fascinating piece of Mississippi history: the story of Perry Martin, the most famous moonshiner in the state and possibly the entire country.

Perry Martin's PM whiskey was a coveted drink during the Prohibition era, with a reputation that extended far beyond the borders of Mississippi. The whiskey was so renowned that even notorious gangster Al Capone sent armed guards on special boxcars from Chicago to Rosedale to load up cases of PM. In speakeasies across the nation, from Chicago to New York, all you had to do was ask for "PM," and you'd be served the finest moonshine whiskey straight from the tiny riverside town of Rosedale.

One of the most interesting facts about Mississippi's moonshining history is the story of how Perry Martin came to be the king of illegal whiskey. Born to a wealthy rice farmer and educated for the ministry, Martin initially pursued a career in politics in Arkansas. However, in 1920, he moved with his family to Big Island, a vast wilderness area across from Rosedale, where he entered the timber and logging business. It was here that Martin's reputation as a formidable figure began to grow.

After a series of violent encounters, including a gunfight where he killed five would-be log thieves, Martin turned to moonshining. He set up his operation on the banks of the Mississippi River, living in an ornate wooden houseboat nestled among the cypress trees. From this base, he produced what many considered to be the best drinks in Mississippi, if not the entire country.

Several factors contributed to the exceptional quality of PM whiskey. Martin used a blend of corn, sugar, and rye malt, and drew his water directly from the Mississippi River. He cooked his whiskey in small batches, using pristine copper stills that gleamed in the dappled sunlight of the oak forest. However, the most crucial element may have been the white oak barrels in which the whiskey was aged, gently rocked by the ebb and flow of the river.

The stories about the Mississippi River and the characters who lived along its banks are as colorful as the whiskey itself. Martin, for example, was known for his generosity, often freely giving money to those in need and even raising abandoned children as his own. He entertained visitors, customers, and politicians with humorous tales, cementing his status as a local legend.

Perry Martin's story is just one of the many fascinating tales woven into the rich tapestry of Mississippi history. From the river rats who plied their trade along the Mississippi to the speakeasies of the Prohibition era, the state has a legacy of unique characters and unforgettable stories. And while the days of moonshining may be gone, the legend of Perry Martin and his PM whiskey lives on, a testament to the ingenuity, independence, and spirit of the people of Rosedale and the Mississippi Delta.