Download Article Download Article Moonshine mash is a popular way to make an alcoholic beverage using a few basic ingredients. Start by mixing the cornmeal, sugar, water, and yeast together. Then, ferment the mash so it becomes alcoholic and distill it so it tastes great as a drink. You can then sip moonshine mash on its own or add it to cocktails or other drinks for a little kick.
- 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg) ground cornmeal
- 10 pounds (4.5 kg) white granulated sugar
- 10 gallons (38 l) of water (distilled if possible)
- 1 ⁄ 2 ounce (14 g) active dry yeast, preferably Turbo
- 1 to 2 cups (0.24 to 0.47 l) water
- 1-2 bags dried fruit (optional)
- 1 Boil 10 gallons (38 l) of water in a 20 gallons (76 l) stainless steel pot. Allow the water to reach boiling temperature, with large bubbles on the surface of the water.
- Use a pot that has been sterilized and cleaned. Do not use a pot that appears dirty or stained.
- 2 Stir in 2.5 pounds (1.1 kg) of cornmeal and boil for 5-7 minutes. Once the water comes to a boil, pour in the cornmeal and use a wooden spoon to mix it in. Continue to stir it until it becomes thick. Advertisement
- 3 Reduce the heat to 150 °F (66 °C). Turn down the heat so the cornmeal stays warm but is no longer boiling. Use a thermometer in the cornmeal to ensure it stays at the right temperature.
- Cooling down the cornmeal will ensure it interacts properly with the yeast when it is added.
- 4 Add 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of sugar and 1 ⁄ 2 ounce (14 g) of yeast. Pour the sugar and yeast into the cornmeal. Use a wooden spoon to combine. Stir it for 5-10 minutes. The mixture should become soupy and thin.
- Remove the mash from the heat once the sugar and yeast have been mixed in.
- 5 Put in dried fruit mash if you’d like more flavor. If you’d like to give the mash a more fruity flavor, soak 1-2 bags of dried fruit in 1 to 2 cups (0.24 to 0.47 l) of water. Then, mash the dried fruit up in the water so it becomes more of a juice. Pour the dried fruit mash into the cornmeal mixture and mix it in with a spoon.
- Try a fruit mash with bananas, apricots, and pineapple to add flavor. A dried fruit mash with blue berries, cherries, and strawberries can also give the mixture a nice fruity taste.
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- 1 Cover the mash and place it in a cool, dark place. You can leave the mash in the pot and place a lid on it or lay a cloth over it. Put the mash in a basement, cellar, or in the back of a closet so it can ferment. The temperature of 60 °F (16 °C) or lower is ideal.
- You can also pour the mash in an empty cooler and put the lid on it so it can ferment.
- 2 Allow it to ferment for 4-5 days. Moonshine mash made with Turbo yeast will ferment within 4-5 days. If you use bread yeast, it may take up to 1 week for the mash to ferment.
- 3 Check the mash for large bubbles on the surface. After 4-5 days, check the mash to see if there are large bubbles that are moving very slowly or sitting on the surface. This is usually a sign the mash is ready to be distilled.
- If the mash still has a lot of smaller bubbles on the surface, it may not be ready to distill and need more time to ferment.
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- 1 Distill the mash in a copper still if you have one available. Rent a copper still from your local brewing supply store or buy one. Look for a copper still made for homebrewing, as they will be smaller and more compact. Then, pour the mash in the still and distill it, following the directions attached to the copper still.
- You may want to invest in a copper still if you plan to make moonshine mash, and other home alcoholic beverages, often.
- A 13 gallons (49 l) copper still can range in price from $900-$1,300 USD.
- 2 Use a pressure cooker and a copper pipe as a makeshift still. Bring the mash to 173 °F (78 °C) in the pressure cooker. Attach a coiled copper pipe to the vent of the pressure cooker with electrical tape. Run the copper coil through a bucket of cold water and put the end in a clean container.
- This is a homemade approach to a copper still, so you may need to monitor it to ensure it works correctly. Check that the mash stays at a constant temperature so it can condense into moonshine.
- 3 Allow the mash to cool. Once you have distilled the mash, let it come to room temperature. The mash should look like a clear liquid with impurities still floating in it.
- 4 Filter the mash using cheesecloth and a strainer. Place a large plastic strainer over a large soup pot. Then, drape the cheesecloth over the strainer. Put a smaller strainer over the cheesecloth, holding it over the cheesecloth with your non-dominant hand.
- You can then squeeze the cheesecloth to remove any smaller impurities from the mash. The cheesecloth should get rid of the stuff sitting on the surface of the mash, or the head, so the mash runs clear.
- Repeat this process until you have strained out all the mash. It should appear clear and clean in the soup pot.
- Throw away the impurities once you have strained them out of the mash.
- 5 Store the moonshine mash in airtight glass jars. Make sure the glass jars are sterile and clean. Keep them in a cool, dark place, sealed tight. You can then sip moonshine mash on its own or add it to cocktails and other drinks.
- Moonshine mash should last for at least 6 months-1 year, if stored properly.
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Add New Question
- Question How can I add flavor to my moonshine mash? You can buy flavoring or put sliced fruit, like peaches and apples, inside the bottle for a month or two.
- Question Should I stir the corn mash before distilling to make the mash work more if there is still starch? Yes, as results tend to be better when you stir it before distilling, to make the mash work.
- Question Do I strain the mash before putting it into the boiler? Yes indeed. If you allow any solids in your wash, they will settle to the bottom of your cooking pot and burn. If you’ve ever had a few pinto beans burn in the pot, you’ll know what kind of taste you’ll have in your liquor.
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- Producing mash for alcoholic spirits or moonshine, either for private consumption or sale, is illegal in the United States and many other countries without proper licensing and permits.
- Making moonshine with a home still can put you at risk of bacterial contamination and alcohol poisoning. Proceed at your own risk.
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- 20 gallons (76 l) stainless steel pot
- Stove top or outdoor stove
- Liquid thermometer
- Long-handled wooden or metal spoon
- A pressure cooker
- A coiled copper pipe
- Electrical tape
- A copper still
Article Summary X To make moonshine mash, boil water in a 20 gallon pot. Add cornmeal and boil for 5-7 minutes. Then, reduce the heat and add sugar and yeast. Stir the mixture for 5-10 minutes, until it becomes soupy, and remove it from the heat. If you want to add more flavor, mash dried fruit in water until it becomes more of a juice and add it to the mash.
Contents
- 1 Do I need to strain mash before distilling?
- 2 Why add gypsum to moonshine mash?
- 3 How long can moonshine mash sit before distilling?
- 4 Do you filter moonshine?
- 5 How do you filter homemade alcohol?
- 6 Can you filter cloudy moonshine?
- 7 Can you filter moonshine with a Brita?
Do I need to strain mash before distilling?
The Distillation – Distilling Alcohol – For distillation use the entire mash, both liquid and solid parts. Don´t filter the mash before distilling. You would lose taste and smell by filtration. Therefore the stills contain solid parts. Hence it is necessary to use a burn protector, Large stills are jacketed kettles in common, mostly equipped with a stirrer, but this system is not appropriate for small copper stills of hobby distillers. If the mash contains less than about 10 %ABV alcohol, you have to distill twice (double distillation). If the alcohol content is higher than that, a simple distillation is completely sufficient. This kind of distillation produces the most intense taste and smell, more than double distilled alcohol. Don’t forget to separate the heads (foreshot). Also if your mash is free of heads, you should separate about 30 drops per 1,5 liters (1.5 US quarts) of mash. Collect the hearts until 91 °C (196 °F) steam temperature, after that you can collect the tails or stop the distillation.
How do you filter whiskey mash?
Re: Filtering the mash prior to distillation. – Post by Dnderhead » Wed Nov 24, 2010 5:33 pm you can just let it settle rack into still. if your going to let it sit for several weeks then rack into a carboy/water bottle. the several rackins with wine is to remove from trub then to git it as clear as possible.this is not necessary.
How do you clear mash before distilling?
Home Distiller Grain bills and instruction for all manner of alcoholic beverages. Moderator: Bootlegger Posts: Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2009 8:35 am Location: Everywhere by » Thu Oct 01, 2009 12:42 am I’ve notice some people allow time to help clear and settle their mash sediments (If you use any cornmeal or other grains) Others like to use chemical additions, but not me.
Here’s a little trick that’s been passed down to me. Code: If you take your mash, place it in a deep freezer for about 20 – 30 minutes all of your sediments will sink to the bottom leaving you an almost crystal clear wash to run through your stills. Not all of us have deep freezers right? No need to worry, here’s a simple plan for most of us upright freezer users I’m not too keen on using plastic with consumable alcohol but for it to go in the freezer 20 – 30 minutes, I have used milk jugs, coke bottles, just whatever is handy at the time.
Fill ya bottles, place in freezer for 20 – 30 minutes, now ya got crystal clear mash to siphon off, if you worried bout grains burning on bottom of your pot still. With my 5 gallon washes I dump 1/2 gallons at a time into my still unitl i fill the still or reach the bottom of the wash, which ever comes first., So i don’t have to worry about sediments once I’ve freezer settled everything.
- I have seen some people use carboys, and when they dump the wash into their still they end up dumping all the loose grains/cornmeal and any other sediments right into the still.
- BUUUUUUUUUUURP! Swill Maker Posts: Joined: Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:17 am Location: West Oz by » Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:15 am Yeah, chilling works fine, but im too lazy, I just leave for a while until its clear.
I just racked off two sugar washes to secondaries and they were crystal clear after 3 weeks. retired Posts: Joined: Sun Jun 14, 2009 2:14 pm Location: If I told you, I’d have to Kill You. by » Thu Oct 01, 2009 4:22 pm im with you plonker, just have enough lying around clearing that you always have something to keep yourself busy.
It will clear, just dont bother it. -Control Freak- AKA MulekickerHDbrownNose Novice Posts: Joined: Tue Dec 01, 2009 1:57 pm by » Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:21 pm The freezing sounds like a good idea but I have been wondering if you could like run the mash through a strainer like a coffee filter or something.
Would that work? Angel’s Share Posts: Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 8:07 pm Location: up north by » Sat Dec 05, 2009 9:20 am youill be going threw a cupple hundred filters. if your in a hurry just add finnings, as far as lowering temps go just 20* well help. retired Posts: Joined: Sun May 13, 2007 8:38 am Location: OzLand by » Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:31 pm Dnderhead wrote: youill be going threw a cupple hundred filters.
If your in a hurry just add finnings, as far as lowering temps go just 20* well help. He he. Yeah, I tried filtering once. Wouldn’t recommend it. Either cold, or clearing agents, or just time, will do the trick. Also, in stilling you are usually not as fussed about getting it ultra clear as you would be with wine or beer.
Be safe. Be discreet. And have fun. Angel’s Share Posts: Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:55 pm Location: Bullamakanka, Oztrailya by » Sat Dec 05, 2009 6:43 pm I just leave mine settle for a week or so after ferment has stopped, but then I’m a lazy bastard who like to keep things as simple as possible. I got some bentonite from a local wine maker about a year ago but as yet haven’t had the need to try it.
- I will one day so I can give an opinion on it, but I just love the KISS principle.
- Blanik Simple potstiller.
- Slow, single run.
- 50 litre, propane heated pot still.
- Coil in bucket condenser – No thermometer, No carbon) The Reading Lounge AND the Rules We Live By should be compulsory reading Cumudgeon and loving it.
Angel’s Share Posts: Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2005 11:55 pm Location: Bullamakanka, Oztrailya by » Sun Dec 06, 2009 3:50 am snookfinken wrote: haha blanikdog, yea I’m just excited so it’s hard to wait. Dreadful feeling, isn’t it? I guess we’ve all felt it. blanik Simple potstiller.
Can you use charcoal to filter moonshine?
Diy Charcoal Filter For Moonshine – DIY charcoal filters for moonshine are a great way to make your moonshine smoother and cleaner tasting. Charcoal filters are one of the simplest, yet most effective ways to purify your moonshine. By passing the moonshine through a charcoal filter, the charcoal will remove impurities, such as sulfuric compounds, that can give it an unpleasant taste.
This process can be accomplished with a homemade charcoal filter, made out of a variety of materials, such as a coffee can, burlap, or even a length of PVC pipe. With the right materials and a little bit of patience, making your own charcoal filter for moonshine is a relatively easy task. It would be nice if we could recirculate a chamber to move the alcohol from one to another in a siphon-like device.
If you want, you can look for SS canisters that are roughly the same dimensions as the plastic filter housings. If you’re worried about chemical leaches, you can be confident that your SS will not leach. This is the type of spirit I’m looking for: tasteless white vodka that is nearly as close as I can get to it.
- I use a 5-inch piece of stainless steel pipe.
- To fill 3/4 of the way up the pipe with activated carbon, use a threaded needle.
- A stainless hose clamp is required to attach a piece of fleece to one send.
- To fill the open end of a funnel or siphon, insert a large funnel or siphon from a bucket.
- The purest spirit you’ve ever had.
Carbon can be used repeatedly, but it must be cleaned every 50-100L that it is used. Carbon can be cleaned by boiling it in a pot on the stove for 15 minutes. Carbon can be placed on a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Place in the oven for one hour at 250 Celsius with the door open for one hour.
- I used a 5′ long piece of stainless steel pipe for my project.
- To clean the carbon, boil it in a pot on the stove for 15 minutes.
- Can you run beer through a psuedcaster? Because I saw a recipe for zima, I would have to look into all the good ones to see if I could try it myself.
- If you’re looking for pure, tasteless ethanol, look into purchasing it from a university or purchasing it by tank load.
The theoretical purity is around 190 or 200 proof. It’s time to dilute it with water to achieve the desired strength. I’ve read most of the evidence against this practice in this area.
Why add gypsum to moonshine mash?
Description – Gypsum (calcium sulfate) additive is used in the distilling and brewing community to put calcium ions back into distilled or reverse osmosis purified water. Can also be used to lower pH of water, wort, or mash. Used in de-mineralized or soft to medium hard water to increase permanent hardness.
When used as directed, gypsum is effective in eliminating the variations of composition encountered in water from common surface sources. Establishing the proper pH of the mash and the wort and providing sufficient calcium ions essential for enzyme function, kettle protein coagulation and yeast metabolism.
In beer brewing, calcium sulfate gypsum is added to the brewing water to adjust the water chemistry and enhance hop flavor. In distilling, gypsum is added to the wash (the mixture of water, grains, and yeast used to produce spirits) to increase the ionic content, which can improve the flavors of the final product.
- However, the use of gypsum should be done in moderation, as too much can lead to an undesired taste.
- Dosage Guide Prepare a 1% solution of cold water and gypsum in a separate tank with vigorous mixing.
- Calcium salts are more soluble in cold water, and the hard mixing will help dissolve the salt more completely.
Dilute the gypsum solution into water being heated for mashing or for sparging. The final concentration of salts should be in the range of 100 to 1000 ppm (mg/L). This will require 0.025 – 0.25 lb/Bbl (10 to 100 g/hl). If a tank is not available for making the solution ahead of time, the gypsum can be also added directly to the mash or sparge water with as much mixing as possible to disperse correctly.
How long can moonshine mash sit before distilling?
It depends on what type of wash you have but as a general rule of thumb, it is best to distil within 2-3 days after fermentation is complete. The wash will keep for up to a month so long as the fermenter is airtight.
Do you filter moonshine?
Removes Organic Compounds – One notable benefit of filtering moonshine through charcoal is its ability to remove unwanted organic compounds. Although you can’t see with the naked eye, some batches of moonshine may contain bacteria or even mold. This is typically caused by using dirty equipment.
While you should always clean your still on a regular basis, filtering moonshine through charcoal is a precautionary measure to help prevent unwanted colonies of bacteria or mold. Consuming small amounts of bacteria or mold may have little-to-no effect on your health; however, constantly drinking them can lead to serious illness or even death.
This is why it’s important for moonshiners to take a proactive approach towards filtering unwanted organic compounds from their shine.
How do you filter homemade alcohol?
Container Filter – One of the easiest ways to use carbon is to put the spirit in a glass jar or alcohol safe container and add carbon to it. Stirring or mixing now and again is required to get good results. If you put the carbon in a muslin bag, you can easily remove it later.
Will charcoal filter out methanol?
Water Treatment for Methanol – According to a study carried out for the American Methanol Institute, common water treatment methods are ineffective: Most treatment technologies that remove gasoline components from water, including air stripping and granular activated carbon, are not effective at removing methanol due to its low volatility and high solubility.
- Reverse osmosis or nanofiltration are also ineffective at removing methanol because of its small size and low molecular weight.
- Instead, the report recommends ozonation with ultraviolet light or “biological treatment processes.” Luckily, methanol biodegrades rapidly, and is generally not expected to be present in water.
Sources: National Center for Biotechnology Information, Hazardous Substances Data Bank, EPA, Earthworks, American Methanol Institute, Photo: WikiMedia, author: Ruben de Rijcke
How do I make sure there is no methanol in moonshine?
If you love your moonshine, you might be curious about the distillation process and want to try it yourself. You’ve probably also heard horror stories about people who get sick and even die from methanol poisoning. To distill moonshine without any methanol, you must discard the first portion of your distillate containing poisonous compounds.
Does a coffee filter filter alcohol?
Filter vodka – You can make vodka taste better by filtering it through a coffee filter several times. Just use a rubber band to secure a filter to the mouth of a jar or glass and pour it though. Using a water pitcher filter takes less time and produces better quality, though. 11 of 11 Alina Bradford / CNET
What materials are used for alcohol filtration?
Vodka production: Filtration Anyone who uses a Brita Filter to make their tap water more palatable will recognise the benefits of activated carbon filtration. Activated carbon filters can be used to remove the organic impurities that affect the colour, smell and taste of vodka, without affecting its alcohol content.
Early separation processes simply involved leaving the spirit to stand until solid particles had fallen to the bottom of the tank. Later fining processes used coagulants such as milk or eggs which solidified around the contaminants so encouraging them to sink. Russians attribute the invention of charcoal filtration to a chemist by the name of Theodore Lowitz who in 1780 was commissioned by the Tsar to make the national drink more hygienic.
He used charcoal made from charred hardwoods to remove fusel oils and other contaminants left by the relatively primitive distillation methods of the time. The Swedes and Poles also lay claim to the invention of the process. While distillation methods have improved to the extent that it is possible to produce near pure ethanol alcohol, some distillers still choose to use charcoal filtration for to its cleaning and softening effect on the spirit – it is particularly useful for removing oily contaminants.
The use of different charcoals made from different woods has varying effects on the distillate. Birch charcoal remains the most popular but the charcoal recipe used by many distillers is a closely guarded secret. Of course, there are vodka distillers that say, “charcoal is for barbecues.” Over the years many different substances have been used for vodka filtration including cloth, wool, paper, sand and other stone fragments.
During the 1990s race to develop vodkas perceived as being ever more premium, filtration materials became ever more exotic, with garnet crystals and even crushed diamonds being used as a filtration medium. Every bottled spirit should at least pass through a particle filter (usually cellulose).
Some producers use cellulose pads impregnated with activated carbon as they claim this helps enhance the visual ‘polish’ and the shine of the spirit. It is also common to chill and then filter vodka at low temperatures. During chilling to temperatures between -2°C (28°F) and as low as -12˚C (10°F) long-chain protein molecules precipitate out of the spirit, ie they change from being dissolved in the liquid into solids again and are then filtered out using particle filters.
If these long-chain protein molecules are not removed the vodka could become hazy when stored at low temperatures. However, some vodka producers would rather risk precipitation claiming that chill-filtration strips out mouthfeel and flavour provided by the fatty acids.
Can you filter alcohol with a water filter?
Does filtering vodka through a Brita actually work? The science behind viral TikTok trend The phrase “You get what you pay for” almost always reigns true, especially when it comes to buying cheap, Often taking shots from a $18 bottle of New Amsterdam or a $16 litre of Svedka will elicit the same reaction: it tastes like rubbing, burns on the way down, and can leave you with an insane hangover the next day.
- Luckily, a cheap vodka has gone viral on that has many people pouring their through a Brita filter.
- The results? It apparently tastes like water.
- This Brita filter hack isn’t something new.
- College students on a budget have been filtering their vodka through a Brita pitcher for years (The trend was also the subject of a 2006 episode).
Only now the hack has spread throughout TikTok and many users are sharing their results after filtering their vodka. Yet, there’s one question that still plagues the minds of these brave test subjects: How does it work? Here’s the science behind the viral trend.
- “I do not think this is going to work at all,” they responded.
- After taste testing the unfiltered vodka and comparing it to the filtered version, Elliott was shocked by the results.
- “It tastes like nothing,” he said.
- “It tastes like water,” his friend added.
Then, friends decided to try it out for themselves with a bottle of Titos vodka. “I’m scared,” they said before taking a sip from the filtered shot.
- “When I tell y’all it tastes like water,” Katie said after taking the shot.
- “That is dangerous,” Sydney warned.
- While the Brita filter seemed to make cheap vodka go down easier, TikTok users in the comments section couldn’t help but ask the most important question: “Will it make you less drunk?”
Surprisingly, no. A Brita filter will not filter out or change the chemical composition of a drink’s alcoholic content. Instead, a Brita filter – also known as an activated carbon filter – works by taste and odor from tap water. This is why the strong smell and bad taste of the cheap vodka is gone after being run through the filter.
Cheap vodka tends to contain many more impurities than expensive vodka does, which can change the clarity, taste, and texture of the drink. High-end vodka brands are usually made from wheat or rye, while inexpensive vodka is made from lower-quality fermented grains such as molasses, soybeans, rice or potatoes.
Plus, expensive alcohols are distilled more than cheap ones before they are put on the market, which is why they tend to taste better and go down smoother. And before you ask, yes. The Brita filter hack does indeed work with other alcohols, like and, However, vodka is considered the most pure liquor, so pouring a bottle of Espolòn Tequila through a Brita pitcher might clog the filter and leave it with more residue.
Can I filter my moonshine?
Removes Unwanted Chemicals – Of course, carbon charcoal filters will also remove unwanted chemicals, such as chlorine, from your moonshine. The secret to its effectiveness lies in its highly absorbent properties. When chemical-ridden fluid passes through carbon charcoal, certain compounds attach themselves to its open pores; thus, filtering the liquid.
How do you remove impurities from moonshine?
How To Filter Moonshine – Moonshine is a type of alcohol that is traditionally made at home. To make sure your moonshine is of high quality, it is important to filter it properly. The simplest way to filter moonshine is to pour it through a fine mesh strainer to remove any large particles or impurities.
Can you filter cloudy moonshine?
Can I treat the cloudy spirit and make it drinkable? The usual carbon filtering process will in most cases remove the cloudiness, but as the cloudiness often stems from your wash coming through with the spirit, the sure way is to redistill the cloudy spirit.
Simply pour the spirit back into your still, top up to the usual height with tap water, then run as per normal. Helpful Hint: Make sure that you add the extra water (up to the usual level in your boiler) to ensure that the element will still be covered when all the alcohol has been boiled off, otherwise you will boil it dry and ruin the element.
: Can I treat the cloudy spirit and make it drinkable?
Can you filter moonshine with a Brita?
Does filtering vodka through a Brita actually work? The science behind viral TikTok trend The phrase “You get what you pay for” almost always reigns true, especially when it comes to buying cheap, Often taking shots from a $18 bottle of New Amsterdam or a $16 litre of Svedka will elicit the same reaction: it tastes like rubbing, burns on the way down, and can leave you with an insane hangover the next day.
Luckily, a cheap vodka has gone viral on that has many people pouring their through a Brita filter. The results? It apparently tastes like water. This Brita filter hack isn’t something new. College students on a budget have been filtering their vodka through a Brita pitcher for years (The trend was also the subject of a 2006 episode).
Only now the hack has spread throughout TikTok and many users are sharing their results after filtering their vodka. Yet, there’s one question that still plagues the minds of these brave test subjects: How does it work? Here’s the science behind the viral trend.
- “I do not think this is going to work at all,” they responded.
- After taste testing the unfiltered vodka and comparing it to the filtered version, Elliott was shocked by the results.
- “It tastes like nothing,” he said.
- “It tastes like water,” his friend added.
Then, friends decided to try it out for themselves with a bottle of Titos vodka. “I’m scared,” they said before taking a sip from the filtered shot.
- “When I tell y’all it tastes like water,” Katie said after taking the shot.
- “That is dangerous,” Sydney warned.
- While the Brita filter seemed to make cheap vodka go down easier, TikTok users in the comments section couldn’t help but ask the most important question: “Will it make you less drunk?”
Surprisingly, no. A Brita filter will not filter out or change the chemical composition of a drink’s alcoholic content. Instead, a Brita filter – also known as an activated carbon filter – works by taste and odor from tap water. This is why the strong smell and bad taste of the cheap vodka is gone after being run through the filter.
Cheap vodka tends to contain many more impurities than expensive vodka does, which can change the clarity, taste, and texture of the drink. High-end vodka brands are usually made from wheat or rye, while inexpensive vodka is made from lower-quality fermented grains such as molasses, soybeans, rice or potatoes.
Plus, expensive alcohols are distilled more than cheap ones before they are put on the market, which is why they tend to taste better and go down smoother. And before you ask, yes. The Brita filter hack does indeed work with other alcohols, like and, However, vodka is considered the most pure liquor, so pouring a bottle of Espolòn Tequila through a Brita pitcher might clog the filter and leave it with more residue.