The Mystery of the Mason Jar

by Molly Shato  

Who would have thought that a simple, wide mouthed, screw on lid jar could be so versatile and soon iconic after so many years? Peach preserves, golden honey, daisies, fireflies, and moonshine are all different items that fill our shelves and memories as the contents in this simple vessel.

There is said to be many urban legends associated with the bonded image of the Mason jar to moonshine. In one story, the moonshiners traveled to the Ball Company and explained to the executives that squared-off jars would be a lot easier to stack in their trunk than the round ones. Another has caricatures and cartoons of moonshiners being portrayed with jugs containing the letters XXX. But there is no historical example of a jug with three X’s on it; jugs like that would be quite old since moonshiners moved to half gallon mason jars many years ago.

These stories are in no way minimizing the importance of the Mason Jar, in fact, the iconic symbol is synonymous with quality. Whenever we see those three X’s our brain we automatically register moonshine but did you know they have a purpose? The three XXX’s scrawled on the front of a moonshine jar (still used today on Popcorn’s Sutton Brand) indicate that it has been run through the still three times and that it has high, almost pure, alcohol content. Clear Mason Jars are also very important to moonshine lovers so they can see the clarity of the product. Everyone loves to see something pure, free of bugs, like a true 100 proof whiskey should be. It has been said that those who still bottle in Mason Jars represent the “Craft distillers” and are said to be working in “the fruit jar trade”. Even today all legal versions of white whiskey emerge in the liquor stores packaged and sold in mason jars to maintain the moonshine imagery.

Why is it that the Mason jar has been so popular over the past 150 years? Is it due to the contents, its history or the simplicity and versatility of its use? One thing is for sure it will continue to have significance; whether it’s as a crafty redneck wine glass, traditional canning jar for a struggling economy, or stack ability for bootlegging in a trunk.

Once the peach preserves and honey are devoured, the daisies die, and the fireflies released there will still be a use for this simple vessel. –The Mason Jar.

Comments

[Matthew]

what does the numbers on the top of the lid mean

[ทีเด็ดมวยไทย7สี]

ต่ำกว่า 18 ห้ามคัดลอกลิงค์ น่ะจ้า >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> เวป มวยไทย 2000ปี ( น้องโจ มวยไทย 2000 ปี ) โคตร มวยหู 085-7377349 รายสัปดาห์ 500 รายเดือน 1500 สายส่วนตัว 2000 ไม่ประชุมสาย สดๆ ในเวที มีของให้เล่น เน้นมวยรอง เครื่องต่อ เครื่อง ไม่ผ่านกล่อง เสียงเร็วกว่าภาพที่เห็น .เเจ้งให้ทราบ เนื่องด้วยขณะนี้ พวกมวยหู ก็อป ไร้คุณภาพ ระบาดหนัก จะสมัคร หูครั้งใด เรียกใช้ น้องโจมวยหู นะครับ สนใจ โทร 085-7377349 โจมวยหู ...จะสมัครหู ขอบเวที โทรมาที่ 085-7377349 น้องโจมวยหู ระดับโลก ......085-7377349 ที่เด็ด มวยตู้............รับรองไม่ผิดหวัง ติดต่อ 085-7377349 น้องโจ มวยหู

[James Brumfield]

Question!!! Where did the moonshiners get the jars??? I heard that the mob was involved in selling the jars and that made the moonshine had to up the price to cover,, another Question I know that they used glass gallon jugs, but was there really a gallon jug made out of ceramic??? Theres got to be someone out there to help with these questions...