Tim Smith Biography: Moonshiners Star, Climax Founder, and Appalachian Legacy

Tim Smith, star of Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners, represents a rare transformation in modern Appalachian heritage—bridging the divide between outlaw tradition and legal enterprise without ever abandoning the principles that shaped him. Born and raised in the backwoods culture of southern Virginia, Smith didn’t just inherit the moonshining trade—he lived it from childhood. Today, he’s the face of Climax Moonshine, a brand that stands as much for authenticity as it does for its taste. Over the years, Tim Smith has spoken candidly about his moonshining roots, his father’s influence, and the motivations behind turning a once-illegal craft into a legal legacy. His reflections reveal a man deeply tied to Appalachian heritage, driven by both pride and purpose.

Wiki/Bio Facts

Full Name	Tim Smith
Birth Date	December 23, 1966
Age (2025)	58 years old
Birthplace	Climax, Virginia, United States
Nationality	American
Profession	Distiller, TV Personality, Businessman, Veteran
Known For	Moonshiners (2011–present)
Military Service	U.S. Army, 6 years, Gulf War
Wife	Shelby Smith
Children	JT Smith (son)
TV Debut	Moonshiners Season 1, Episode 1 (2011)
Business	Climax Moonshine
Estimated Net Worth	$500,000–$800,000 (2025)
Residence	Climax, Virginia

A Childhood Distilled in Tradition

Moonshining was never a hobby in Tim Smith’s household—it was woven into daily life. Born into a family of bootleggers in Climax, Virginia, Tim was immersed in the craft as early as five years old.

“I grew up in moonshining,” he recalled. “My father was moonshining and we was always hauling moonshine, making moonshine, picking it up.”

As a child, moonshine wasn’t introduced to him as alcohol but as a remedy and household staple.

“If you had a sore throat or something… you put some sugar in it, dilute it, and you just did a teaspoon of it. I didn’t really know that that was alcohol. It was just moonshine.”

Tim was so attached to the moonshine life that when it came time to start school, he resisted. “I told my dad I didn’t want to go to school,” he said. Eventually, they struck a deal—Tim would skip kindergarten and help his father, in exchange for learning enough to be ready for first grade. That first year, Tim learned to count by managing moonshine money, writing figures with a stubby pencil his father carried in his shirt pocket. “He said, ‘You don’t need all that pencil. You just need that little pencil.’ It fit my hand.”

He practiced tallying up gallons, calculating costs and profits—learning early the fundamentals of business and bookkeeping. “When I learned what that net money was, that’s a good possibility that some of that could be mine.”

By age six or seven, Tim was helping hide the family’s moonshine during a police raid. “I actually hid it in my room… under my bed. I was scared to death,” he said. After the raid, his father patted him on the back and handed him $10 for his bravery—a small fortune to a boy who used to mow two acres of grass for $2. “At this point on, you’ve got my interest,” he said. “I learned the business pretty quick.”

As he grew older, Tim worked alongside his father in every step of the process: cutting, shelling, grinding corn, mashing in, distilling. He watched his father not only perfect the product but market it with skill. “He was politicking,” Tim said, describing how his father would hand out samples at the grist mill while working the crowd. “That corn mill was already sold because it was going to be made into white lightning.”

The business was deeply communal, with an unspoken network of trust and trade. Tim’s early exposure to both craftsmanship and charisma laid the foundation for his own eventual leadership in the moonshine world. “I learned at an early age how to make that sale.”

Smith credits his father as the central figure in his moonshining education. “This is my dad’s recipe—the illegal recipe going legal,” he explained, holding a bottle of Climax Moonshine. “You can see inside the bottle—I have my dad inside… and my picture on the outside.” For Tim, the product is as much a tribute as it is a business.

The Day Everything Changed

The decision to transition from illicit to legal production wasn’t driven by profit, publicity, or even pressure. It was driven by grief—and legacy.

“The turning point in my life was my father,” Smith revealed. “The day that he had an accident—he died in a car accident—that was the time that I said now I can go legal.” For years, his father had warned him that working with the government meant compromising personal principles. “He was always, uh… I want to say, you’re s***ing with the government if you do go on the other side of the fence,” Smith said. His father didn’t believe in paying taxes on what was made at home—likening moonshine to growing tomatoes in your own garden. “Why do I have to pay the government to eat that sandwich? It’s the same thing… because it’s your homegrown product.”

But with his father gone, Smith saw an opportunity to preserve the recipe, the values, and the story—legally. He submitted the family recipe for federal approval, patented it, and entered the commercial spirits market. “All legal brands are like that,” he acknowledged. “You do have to submit a recipe to the government… and then everyone knows what the recipe is.”

Climax Moonshine: Legal, Loyal, and Local

Smith’s brand, Climax Moonshine, is named after his hometown of Climax, Virginia. Distilled legally in Kentucky and distributed across nine states, the product remains rooted in old techniques. “We make it from an old-time recipe just like they used to do it in the woods,” he said. “We use the same process. And I think it’s not just the recipe in making moonshine—it’s more in the process… that’s what makes mine taste better.”

Today, Smith travels extensively to promote the brand. During an appearance at Sea Pines Liquors in Hilton Head, South Carolina, he spoke about the power of personal connection in marketing. “We try to promote things on internet and Facebook and tweet and stuff,” he said, “but now you can see it’s a real person and they take the real product back and they promote it themselves.” In his words, “Instead of us trying to go from state to state, we just let the people do it for us.”

The Broader Message: Heritage vs. System

Though now a legal distiller, Smith hasn’t lost his critical view of alcohol regulation. He sees the federal tax on distilled spirits as a burden on self-reliance and heritage. “Because that was a law established… that a federal tax will be paid on any manufacturing of alcohol,” he said. “Everyone goes back that it’s a heritage and stuff—yes, it is a heritage, and it is a way of life.” But as society moves toward convenience and disconnection from origins, Smith fears that the roots are forgotten. “People go to the liquor store… they don’t really know where [alcohol] comes from. They don’t really care.”

His mission is to reconnect people to the roots. Not just through the drink, but through the story.

High-Tech Redneck, Low-Tech Heart

Despite his deep rural identity, Smith isn’t stuck in the past. He markets through social media, runs two websites—climaxmoonshine.com and timsmithmoonshine.com—and refers to himself with a grin as a “high-tech redneck.” Alongside him in nearly all appearances is his dog Camo, a Louisiana-bred Catahoula Leopard dog, adding another personal layer to his brand’s visual identity.

He continues to value face-to-face storytelling and retail visits just as much as digital outreach. For Smith, it’s never just about selling liquor—it’s about preserving the soul of an American tradition and honoring those who came before him.

Personal Life and Family Legacy

Born on December 23, 1966, in Climax, Virginia, Tim Smith has spent his life rooted in the same community that shaped his moonshining values. A proud U.S. Army veteran, Smith served six years, including deployments in the Gulf region. After his military service, he returned to civilian life working as a maintenance mechanic and later became a cornerstone of public service in his hometown by joining the Climax Volunteer Fire Department, eventually rising to the rank of fire chief.

Tim is married to Shelby Smith, a dedicated school nutritionist at Gretna Elementary School and active participant in local community and church life. Together, they have one son, JT Smith, who represents the fourth generation in the family’s distilling tradition. JT first appeared on Moonshiners in 2011 and remained part of the show through 2019, learning the ropes of legal moonshining alongside his father. Today, he plays an active role in the business, helping to expand the Climax brand and launching new products like JT Rye, which bridges generational tastes while honoring timeless methods.

As of 2025, Tim Smith has appeared in over 150 episodes of Moonshiners, having been part of the show since its inaugural season in 2011, where he helped bring the moonshine world to national attention through authenticity, resilience, and family tradition.

Net Worth and Business Impact

Tim Smith’s career trajectory—from hauling jugs of illicit liquor in rural Virginia to helming a legally distributed brand—has translated into considerable financial success. While exact figures are private, several estimates place his net worth between $500,000 and $800,000 as of 2025. This range accounts for multiple income streams: his appearances in over 150 episodes of Moonshiners and its spin-offs, the nationwide sales of Climax Moonshine, and his role as co-developer of new spirits like JT Rye.

Unlike many reality TV personalities whose fame fades with their airtime, Smith has capitalized on his exposure by building a durable business rooted in legacy and authenticity. He also earns from brand partnerships, product endorsements, and public appearances. His decision to go legal in 2013—combined with strategic distribution and savvy marketing—has allowed him to turn heritage into enterprise without diluting its essence.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How old is Tim Smith from Moonshiners?
Tim Smith was born on December 23, 1966. As of 2025, he is 58 years old.

Was Tim Smith in the military?
Yes, Tim Smith is a U.S. Army veteran. He served for six years, including deployment in the Gulf region.

Who is Tim Smith’s wife?
Tim is married to Shelby Smith, a school nutritionist at Gretna Elementary School. She is active in church and community work.

Does Tim Smith have children?
Yes, he has a son named JT Smith who appeared on Moonshiners from 2011 to 2019 and now plays an active role in the family moonshine business.

What is Tim Smith’s net worth?
As of 2025, Tim Smith’s net worth is estimated to be between $500,000 and $800,000, based on earnings from his television career, Climax Moonshine sales, and business ventures.

When did Tim Smith go legal with moonshine?
He officially transitioned to legal production in 2013, partnering with a Kentucky distillery to launch Climax Moonshine.

Sources This article incorporates direct quotes and details from publicly available interviews and social media posts by Tim Smith.

• YouTube interview at Sea Pines Liquors: Watch here • Instagram reel from June 2023: @tim.smith.spirits • YouTube feature on childhood and early moonshining years: Watch here