By Michael Bushnell
Northeast News
October 8, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Missouri – Ask Northeast resident Mike Anderson what he does in his spare time and you’re likely to get an answer somewhere between 80 and 100 proof.

Anderson, a long time Scarritt Renaissance neighbor and his business partner Brian Dixon, own and operate Mid-Best Distilling in Gravois Mills, Mo.

“I’m a legal moonshiner,” Anderson said, holding a bottle of his newly distilled Blood Moon Whiskey. “We wanted to, in this time of shrinking budgets, do something that benefits such a great event.”

Anderson is referring to the annual Scarritt Safe Halloween event that’s been a staple in Historic Northeast since the early 1990’s.

“We’re doing a limited run of 500 bottles this year of the new Blood Moon Moonshine because this year, the total eclipse on Oct. 8 will be a full-fledged Blood Moon,” Anderson said beaming, almost eerily.

According to ancient lore, a Blood Moon brings with it cooler nights and the prospect that winter is right around the corner. With a label designed by Kirstie Mulligan, award winning Northeast News Art Director, and a taste that rivals some of the best Tennessee hooch, the 500 bottle run is sure to be a big hit.

Leslie Caplan, president of the Scarritt Renaissance Neighborhood Association, is excited about the possibilities of the new partnership.

“What a great example of people using their hobbies and skills to benefit the neighborhood” Caplan said. “This is all about supporting our local business people.”

Anderson, who will begin the bottling process this week, is happy to give back as well.

“We’ve really gone all out for this event in the plus 18 years we’ve lived here,” Anderson said. “This is just another way to really insure the ongoing success of the Halloween event in Scarritt.”

Each 750 mil bottle will sell for $25 with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Scarritt Renaissance Scare-It Halloween event. If you’d like to have your own jar of the Blood Moon Moonshine, call Mid Best Distillery at 816-838-3139 or via email at mike@mid-bestdistillery.com.