But you Minnesooootans know all about the south. 
I said I knew a lot about the South where?
As to what snow birds do in the South that Bugs had a snit-fit about, not my problem nor the point of this thread. 
I know only as much about growing up in the South as is written here by those who did.
The Knob Creek Machine Gun shoot is as far South (East) as I have been and I have been in Dallas , Tx, which is now , many years later where my Sig's. one niece lives.
I do not really know where you draw the boundaries for the South vs. not South.
North to those who grew up here is the States along the North border, not counting anything West of Idaho.
The area I grew up in used to be called the five State area, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and the Dakotas, but now, even the NRA, puts a dividing line at Dakota Borders, removing that from the Mid-West.
Merry Christmas to all of you, anywhere.
I think that for the most part, the "midwest" frame of mind, goes well beyond any state borders, and is not governed by state borders. An accurate map would look more like a dalmation's hide, with the black spots being the cities being leftist enclaves, ..And that includes the cities in the traditional midwest. That mind frame is very present where I live in western NY State...outside of the cities, of course.
Now, for the "shine" part...
"I’m guessing here, but I’d say that their shine was consumed locally, whereas Tennessee shine was distributed as far away as NYC until some of Ironglows neighbors learned to make better whiskey." NY has not been a dry state, outside of the prohibition days, so other than that era, shine is not a profitable deal.
However, during the prohibition, apparently they were busy here as well. I heard stories of city folk making "bathtub gin", apparently somehow, the family bathtub was employed in the manufacture.
I understand that the woods did harbor some stills, but apparently not so much as to require a invasion by "revenuers"!
I understand that many did see the depression through, by making some money from that . My wife's grandmother confessed to stirring up some, during those years. Of Pennsylvania Dutch extraction, she never imbibed, but it did help the feeding and care of several children. Grandpa worked hard, but still didn't make much during the depression.
The south:
I have always lived primarily in the north, but also lived some years in the south. I learned to love the south a much as my original northern roots. There are some very nice things about the south..except for bugs, chiggers and fire ants!
I appreciate the culture where we address each other as 'sir' and 'maam'..and I still do it regularly wherever I go. It is one of the secrets of the south, to start children out that way,,,should be mandatory for children everywhere, when addressing adults.
Where many northern folks go astray, is where they think that the occasional slower speech, means a slower thought process. That is their first mistake! Southern wisdom is not so outspoken as here, and until you understand the subtle way of ridicule, you may be getting burned and not even know it !
Too often, northern folks tend to be overbearing and think they are more clever than the locals. That does happen, but it may just be the lefties from the northern cities, since they have that same attitude around here, once they leave their concrete jungles.
Best advice for northern folks going south...you have one mouth...and two ears, try to listen twice as often as you talk...at least for then first couple months, until you get the hang of it .
Same if the reverse were the case, I suspect..
