The Batesville, Ark., businessman is the first in the state to have a license to produce corn liquor.
He hopes to start production is a matter of months.
The 84-year-old Ward learned about moonshine from his father, who produced illegal booze when Ward was a kid.
But Ward tells a local paper the sheriff discovered the still and smashed it up.
Ward plans to produce 200 gallons a day.
He adds the distillery will bring as many as 20 jobs to the town.
