Whiskey Fungus Removal- Big money in Bourbon country

[KirkH]

This 2012 Silverado truck lives 1 mile downwind from both Buffalo Trace Distillery (Pappy Van Winkle) and Jim Beam. The whiskey fungus originates from the barrelhouses and it covers everything. This truck was really bad, especially the side that is parked facing the distillery. Here's the short video of the fungus on the truck and the finished truck:




I used Chemical Guys Citrus Wash & Gloss at high strength, then synthetic clay pads on a Cyclo polisher to scrub all the fungus off. Various brushes and every mitt and bug scrubber I had. The customer did not want to polish it. This is a case where you might clay the vehicle but not follow with a polisher. I finished the truck with DP Wet Seal.

Lots of cars and houses around the distilleries are covered with this mess. While it sucks to have to deal with it, it does provide a lucrative market.

[SNP209]

That looks like a pain in the neck to clean. Does this pose a bio hazard for people that live near the distillery? I imagine the air quality must be affected.

[KirkH]

Interesting you should ask that. The distillery tour guides will ignore any question about the fungus. I think we still don't know if it is a health hazard.

[Paul A.]

That's wild! Never heard of it till now.

Great job on the removal.

Now watch...with all the dang products us detailers are tempted with watch someone come out with "Ceramic Infused Whiskey Fungus Remover"!

[Desertnate]

Great job on the truck. I never thought about the fungus building up on vehicles. Makes sense though when you consider how it builds up on the buildings.

Interesting you should ask that. The distillery tour guides will ignore any question about the fungus. I think we still don't know if it is a health hazard.

When I took a tour of the Jack Daniels distillery in Lynchburg, TN, our tour guide pointed it out on the tour. She talked about what it was and why it turns all the brick buildings black. We stayed in the area for several days and I remember the air quality readings being pretty good. Molds and some fungus set off my seasonal allergies, and I didn't have any issues.

All of the new barrel houses are painted black now and I wonder if one reason was so they didn't have to worry about the fungus making the buildings look neglected.

[Setec Astronomy]

It seems to me I read an article about people adjacent to Jack Daniels suing because of all the expense involved in keeping their houses etc. clean, I don't think they mentioned any health effects, they might have said it was killing the trees or something.

[KirkH]

It seems to me I read an article about people adjacent to Jack Daniels suing because of all the expense involved in keeping their houses etc. clean, I don't think they mentioned any health effects, they might have said it was killing the trees or something.

I also do soft wash cleaning of houses and roofs. I think its something mobile detailers should look in to. It makes $200-400/hr. You can get all setup for about $2000.


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline

[MisterSnoop]

Cheers to a job well done!

[Desertnate]

It seems to me I read an article about people adjacent to Jack Daniels suing because of all the expense involved in keeping their houses etc. clean, I don't think they mentioned any health effects, they might have said it was killing the trees or something.

They are. I saw a story in the local news about the lawsuit while we were staying in the area.

I remember the complaints about the buildings, but not the trees. The area is pretty heavily wooded to include the property of the distillery itself and there were plenty of huge old-growth trees.

I think the lawsuit is interesting. The distillery has been in operation for over a hundred years and is a huge local employer. I think the fungus is just something you have to live with in the area. Almost like people building homes near an existing airport or a race track and then complaning about the noise.

[waddell64]

It is so funny that you posted this. I was just at Buffalo Trace last Thursday and asked the question to the tour guide - what is this black stuff all over the older buildings - whiskey fungus - I had never heard about it.