STATE COLLEGE — In 2022, Erica Unruh became Centre County’s first female head distiller at Barrel 21. Now, she will become the first Centre County distiller to make an appearance on national television.
Unruh will appear on Season 4, Episode 21 of the Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners: Master Distiller.” The episode airs on Feb. 13.
Each episode tasks competitors with making a different spirit to compete for the title of master distiller. Unruh and the two other competitors were tasked with making spiced rum.
The Centre County distiller opted to use a recipe she’s familiar with — the one used by Barrel 21.
“It’s such a unique opportunity and a great way to bring awareness to the company and our products, so it’s also beneficial for Barrel 21,” Unruh said.
On the show, the competitors are responsible for bringing or shipping any ingredients they were planning to use to the filming site in Tennessee. Unruh shipped molasses and filled her suitcases with spices, yeast and other ingredients.
Before arriving in Tennessee, Unruh recalled not knowing what to expect when it came to interacting with other competitors and the judges.
“After experiencing it, one of the best parts of this opportunity was the people that I met and the friendships built during filming,” Unruh said. “It truly felt like a family by the end and I keep in touch with many of the people that I met on set. The Moonshiners family is the best.”
As excited as Unruh is to relive the memories of the show and to see how the producers packed two weeks of filming into one hour, she’s still nervous to watch herself on TV.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for that,” she said.
Looking back on the two weeks they spent filming, Unruh said the show reaffirmed that she belongs in this space.
When the producers initially reached out to Unruh, she said they were seeking more women.
“Part of my excitement about being recruited and selected for this series is to show that females belong in these spaces,” she said. “This experience was out of my comfort zone, but if I can be a positive example to any other females considering male-dominated roles such as this, then I’m honored to be that representation on a show like this.”
Regardless of the show’s outcome, she said her experience on the show continues to inspire her creativity in improving the spirits she makes.
“My time on the show gave me a renewed excitement for the work that I do,” Unruh said.
The show will air at 9 p.m. on Feb. 13 on Discovery, after a new episode of “Moonshiners.” Barrel 21 will host a watch party with spiced rum cocktail specials and special food features for Taco Tuesday.
