EDITOR’S NOTE: Strangeville explores the curious and unexplained stories that have long defined Asheville and Western North Carolina. The region is full of unanswered questions, from old folklore and local legends to eerie encounters, unsolved moments in history, and the true-crime mysteries that still leave people wondering. Each week, we look back with an open mind and a sense of curiosity, trying to understand why some stories take hold and why some can never be explained.

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (828newsNOW.com) — Cherry bounce moonshine is more than a drink. For generations, this rich, ruby-red liquor made from cherries, sugar, and whiskey has been steeped, bottled, and passed around at kitchen tables and gatherings in Appalachia. The process takes months.

Few names are associated with the stories of cherry bounce like Amos Owens, the so-called Cherry Bounce King of Cherry Mountain.

Amos Owens didn’t invent cherry bounce, but he did help root it in Southern tradition.

The Irish-descended farmer and moonshiner was born around 1822 and carved out his own piece of Cherry Mountain by age 23. He had already married, paid the justice of the peace in brandy, and started refining his cherry-infused spirit.

Travelers came from hundreds of miles away for Owens’ cherry bounce. His property gained notoriety for annual gatherings that blended music and food. Visitors danced, picnicked, and sampled his famously strong cherry bounce.

Owens viewed the drink as an extension of his community. Federal agents viewed it as contraband.

This sketch of Amos Owens, known as the Cherry Bounce King, appeared in The Charlotte Observer in June 1902. The image reflects Owens’ growing regional legend during his lifetime, tied to his moonshine gatherings on Cherry Mountain. Image credit: Newspapers.com via The Charlotte Observer

Owens’ military service during the Civil War preceded a lifelong refusal to pay federal liquor taxes. That decision placed him in frequent conflict with revenue officers, leading to multiple arrests and three federal prison sentences. He continued distilling and sharing cherry bounce until his death in 1906.

One of the most legendary stories about Owens involves a raid by federal agents while he prepared a shipment of cherry bounce. The story claims that Owens offered breakfast to the officers, then offered them drink when they declined the meal. They reportedly drank so much cherry bounce they could no longer perform their duties. Owens had the chance to flee but waited for the officers to sober up and arrest him. He served six months in jail and resumed distilling after he returned home.

Cherry bounce itself dates to colonial America. Some versions even tie the drink to early American figures such as George Washington. Owens gave it a distinctly Appalachian identity. His gatherings on Cherry Mountain became legendary for their mix of hospitality and rebellion.

The annual Cherry Bounce Festival in Forest City continues to honor that legacy. The event features music, cherry-themed drinks, and regional storytelling that keep Owens’ name alive.

Historical accounts describe Owens as more than a moonshiner. He was remembered as a folk figure who blurred the line between outlaw and host, between lawbreaker and community builder.

Few figures in Southern moonshine history have left behind a legacy as spirited as North Carolina’s Amos Owens.