Why Is Moonshine Better Than Whiskey?

Is whiskey stronger than moonshine? – No, whiskey is not stronger than moonshine– single-barrel whiskey has similar ABV contents to moonshine. Although they have similar proof potency, the difference between whiskey and moonshine is maturity, taste, and distilling process. Please drink responsibly, be fully accountable with your alcohol consumption, and show others respect.

Which is better moonshine or whiskey?

Final Thoughts – There’s a huge difference between whiskey and moonshine. Moonshine is an illegally produced alcohol drink that goes by various names worldwide. Usually, it is made from fermented corn mash. Unlike whiskey, moonshine does not need to be aged.

1. https://www.britannica.com/topic/whiskey
2. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moonshiner

Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best cocktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique cocktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at or learn more about us here,

What makes moonshine different from whiskey?

What’s the Difference Between Whiskey and Moonshine? Those who know a little bit about alcohol eventually ask the question “What’s the difference between whiskey and moonshine?” The short answer? Absolutely nothing. Both whiskey and moonshine have the same production process – give or take a few variables.

1. Moonshine” came to be distinguished from whiskey for its illegal nature rather than it being a different type of alcohol – moonshine is just whiskey that hasn’t been taxed.
2. The practice of making moonshine began early on in American history when the newly-established US government established a tax on liquor and spirits to help pay for the costs of the Revolution.

Feisty colonial whiskey fans, many of whom were farmers who supported their families in bad harvest years with their alcoholic product, refused to pay for the tax, leading to an underground whiskey trade. Moonshine making continued from then on up until Prohibition went into effect in 1920, when its popularity exploded.

Suddenly, because there was no legal whiskey available anywhere, moonshine was in high demand, and the distillers who were used to evading the law already began to make a fortune. The practice of using sugar as a base for moonshine became more common as distillers tried to stretch their profits further.

After Prohibition, moonshine’s popularity naturally fell until it became more or less known as a backwoods country phenomenon. Historically, the taste of moonshine was closer to vodka than it is to a dark-colored whiskey. That’s because moonshine was rarely if ever aged – the process of acquiring and storing oak barrels for aging would have been very difficult undercover.

The taste could vary, though, since there were no legal standards. That’s part of what made moonshine somewhat dangerous – not only for the distiller, who could get caught and thrown in jail, but also for the drinker, who could go blind if the distiller was careless or greedy and did not remove the methanol naturally generated by the distillation process.

Of course, Grand River Spirits is a legal distillery – so our “moonshine” labeling is simply a fun homage to American history and our roots in Southern Illinois. It also means we follow all industry best practices and our spirits are perfectly safe to drink (in moderation, of course).

Why is moonshine better than regular alcohol?

Vodka & Moonshine Compared – While vodka is legal in most countries, moonshine is a term that describes distilled spirits with extremely high proof that aren’t legally accepted in most states. Based on their alcohol content, moonshine is stronger than vodka because it has higher alcohol-proof. Moonshine’s alcohol level can be as high as 190 proof. On the contrary, vodka only has an average of 80 proof.

Is moonshine just unaged whiskey?

Moonshine: From Woods To Whiskey Throughout its storied past, moonshine has been called many things: shine, white lightning, hooch, fire water, white dog, or bathtub gin. Without regulation, there was no standardization to the methods or monikers of “moonshine”.

1. Currently, to be called “moonshine”, there are some loose qualifications the spirit must meet.
2. Ultimately, moonshine is grain alcohol at its purest form.
3. Moonshine was originally made in secret during the prohibition era and, to contemporary purists, it’s not considered “moonshine” unless it’s clandestine.

However, most distilleries now legally produce moonshine, regardless of whether they bottle and sell a product labeled as “moonshine.” Whiskey, prior to aging, is moonshine! So, What is Moonshine? Moonshine is defined as a homemade, un-aged whiskey, marked by its clear color, corn base, and high alcohol content (sometimes peaking as high as 190 proof).

Traditionally, it was produced in a homemade still and bottled in a mason jar. For most of its history, moonshine was distilled in secret to avoid taxes and alcohol bans (specifically during the Prohibition Era). The term “moonshiner” was popularized in the 18 th century, where individuals deep in the woods of the Appalachia attempting to avoid being caught by police distilled under the light of the moon.

How it’s Made Moonshine consists of:

Corn Barley Wheat or Rye (optional) Yeast Water

While distillate or moonshine can be made from pretty much any type of grain, it originally was made from barley or rye. Moonshine at its purest form, is whiskey, or bourbon distillate. It is un-aged, high in proof, and clear in color. During the Prohibition Era, if grains were unavailable or too expensive, moonshiners would use white sugar which still gave them that alcohol “kick” they were looking for, but with a sweeter taste to it.

1. Making moonshine has two main steps: fermentation and distillation.
2. Fermentation is the process of yeast breaking down the sugars in the grains to produce alcohol.
3. Once the fermentation process is complete, the “moonshine mash” (fermented grains and yeast) is sent to the still.
4. As the temperature rises in the still, the steam is forced through the top of the still into the worm box.

The worm box is typically a barrel with cold water flowing through it and a metal coil pipe down the center. Alcohol vapors flow through the coil pipe where they cool and condense back into a liquid. The last part of distillation is the spout or valve that leads from the worm box to a bucket or steel drum.

• Typically this would be sent through at least one filter, but potentially more.
• The “XXX” label, that has been popularized in moonshine imagery, was originally an indication of quality; each “X” represented a time that it had been distilled.
• Moonshine Today Moonshine has changed quite a bit since the backyard bottlers of Prohibition.

In 1933, U.S. alcohol production became legal, as long as you paid the appropriate taxes and had the correct permits. While this makes moonshine legal, you are still prohibited from distilling some at home. Why is this? Mainly for safety reasons. Distilling is a very precise chemical process that, when done incorrectly, can create a dangerous environment or produce a toxic libation.

Governmental regulations are not just for tax purposes, but to protect the consumer from drinking something that could cause serious health issues. “Unlike other spirits, legally produced moonshine can be made with any source material, at any proof, can have coloring and flavoring added – the works. There are no rules for its classification,” said Colin Blake, director of spirits education,

With such a loose classification of this grain alcohol, many different flavored products can still be considered moonshine! At Jeptha Creed, we offer a high-proof original moonshine highlighting the traditional flavor profile, but made with modern distillation processes.

1. All of our moonshines start with the same four grains as our flagship bourbon, featuring our heirloom Bloody Butcher Corn.
2. If you’re less interested in this pure un-aged whiskey flavor, we have expanded into the modern spectrum of moonshine with a naturally-flavored lineup.
3. Delicious moonshine flavors like apple pie, blackberry, cinnamon, and lemonade represent our ode to the history with a focus on the future.

Our moonshine is even sold in mason jars as a “hats off” to the non-regulated history it came from. Our line of moonshines are a far cry from the potentially deadly spirits that used to flow from homemade stills. Representing its full integration into the contemporary alcohol industry, moonshine now even has its own holiday! National Moonshine Day is on the first Thursday in June (June 2 nd of 2022).

Is moonshine rot gut whiskey?

MOONSHINE. – “Moonshine” has had many colloquial names, sometimes being called “rot gut,” “white lightnin’,” or “corn liquor.” By definition, “moonshine” is an “intoxicating liquor, especially illegally distilled corn whiskey.” A “moonshiner” is “a maker or seller of illicit whiskey.” The European spelling is “whisky” (the United States spelling became whiskey), a Gaelic word meaning “water of life.” The water of life, or illegal, illicit liquor, has been a part of world history and lore and is a tradition in the southern United States.

• Oklahoma is no exception, with many residents traditionally making, selling, and consuming illegal liquor.
• Almost from the nation’s beginning, the manufacture and sale of whiskey has been taxed as a source of government revenue.
• Consequently, the primary reason for illegally making whiskey has been to avoid paying the taxes.

In 1791, in order to help pay the national debt, and encouraged by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, the U.S. Congress placed an excise tax on whiskey. Many Scotch-Irish settlers, who not only consumed whiskey but also distilled it and sold it for a livelihood, considered the tax to be discriminatory.

• In 1794 they demonstrated and rebelled in a series of events, primarily on the frontier, called the Whiskey Rebellion.
• They were arrested, but Pres.
• George Washington later pardoned them.
• After the Civil War in some areas taxation on legal alcohol was set at “eight times” the distiller’s cost.
• To avoid paying the tax, in the 1870s many distillers decided to bribe revenue collectors and politicians at all levels of the government.

Their efforts became a public scandal known as the Whiskey Ring. Secretary of the Treasury Benjamin Bristow eventually broke the ring, which was one of several scandals during Pres. Ulysses S. Grant’s administration. In Indian Territory it was against federal law to sell or give alcohol to American Indians.

In 1889, when the Unassigned Lands (Oklahoma Territory) opened to non-Indian settlement, saloons began operating along the area’s eastern and southern borders, adjacent to Indian lands. The liquor traffic was so heavy over the next two decades that the framers of the 1907 state constitution included the prohibition of all alcoholic beverages.

Nevertheless, distilling, selling, and consuming moonshine continued after statehood. After national prohibition was repealed in 1933, the state legislature, guided by religious conservatism, passed a law declaring that nothing stronger than 3.2 beer, in alcohol percentage level, could be sold in Oklahoma.

• In 1959 the law was repealed.
• Moonshine is made from fermented grains or mash.
• In Oklahoma the main ingredient is usually corn, and the product is called “corn whiskey.” Other ingredients, such as yeast, malt, and sugar, vary according to the taste of the distiller (moonshiner).
• The distillation process usually involves copper pots, a fire (alcohol rises at about 172 degrees Fahrenheit), and an oak barrel in which to age and give color to the liquor.

As it cooks, the sugar usually creates a sweet odor in the atmosphere. Revenue agents could sometimes locate a still by the smell or could identify a moonshiner by his purchases of large quantities of sugar or other constituents. The resulting product has customarily been “bottled” and sold in fruit-canning jars.

1. Moonshine has played a major role in Oklahoma history, as has the bootlegger, who sold illegal whiskey to his consumers.
2. Because the law prohibited the selling of 3.2 beer where dancing was allowed, the bootlegger became a major fixture at dance halls.
3. Bootleggers also became Oklahoma folk legends.
4. However, rather than peddling moonshine, most bootleggers sold liquor that had been legally distilled and bottled and “imported” from other states.

The unsophisticated technology of moonshine manufacture often produced a substance that was hazardous to health. The “jake leg” or “jake walk,” a permanent, debilitating condition that pulled a leg into an almost useless position, was acquired by drinking moonshine distilled with Jamaican ginger or by drinking Jamaican ginger, which was usually 70 percent alcohol.

Some moonshiners learned that “jake” strengthened their product, and some alcoholics learned that Jamaican ginger was as strong as or was stronger than moonshine. Jamaican ginger also contained other dangerous chemicals. Unfortunately, some of the earliest “jake walk” victims were diagnosed in Oklahoma.

In the late twentieth century many moonshiners used various methods or added substances, including lye, battery acid, or other caustics, to shorten the distillation and aging time. The resulting liquor could seriously injure or kill the drinker. Home brew, moonshine, Choc beer and/or other nontaxed and illicit alcoholic beverages have found a large market in Oklahoma.

What makes moonshine so special?

It’s time to forget everything you know about moonshine – If you were born in Eastern Kentucky like I was, you might have become acquainted with moonshine at a young age, wondering, like I did, what that mysterious clear liquid was sloshing around in a mason jar every time you opened the freezer. My father told me to stay away from what he called “white lightning,” that if I drank it, it would probably put unwanted hair on my chest.

I didn’t need convincing: Before I reached the double digits, he let me smell the contents of the jar. Needless to say, I recoiled instantly, thinking : Who would drink this? The answer, of course, ranges from whiskey lovers to cocktail fiends, with moonshine becoming increasingly popular over the last decade, outliving its reputation as a potent liquor that could leave you dead, blind or paralyzed.

So what exactly is moonshine, and how did it go from one of the most illicit liquors in the United States to one winning the hearts of mixologists and craft distillers? Moonshine purists define the spirit as a homemade, unaged whiskey, marked by its clear color, corn base and high alcohol content—sometimes peaking as high as 190 proof.

Traditionally, it was produced in a homemade still and bottled in a mason jar. Scottish and Irish immigrants, many who settled in the southeastern throngs of the country, first brought moonshine to the United States in the 18th century. The spirit quickly became a mainstay of Southern culture. But just as its popularity crested, so too did the government’s interest in taxation.

It was Alexander Hamilton who imposed a tax on whiskey production in 1791, making any untaxed moonshine production illegal. Whiskey drinkers avoided taxation by making and buying moonshine at night, under the cover of darkness and the light of the moon—which some suspect gave rise to its name.

Just as Prohibition led to a rise in underground bars in the 1920s, the illegalization of untaxed moonshine production spawned generations of illicit whiskey producers for the next two-hundred years. Not only was it produced illegally, but oftentimes it was done poorly, too—only contributing to its bad reputation.

That’s because it’s not easy to make. “Moonshine is one of America’s greatest spirits, but it’s really hard to make exceptionally well because it’s unaged,” moonshine maker Taras Hrabowsky explains. “With aged spirits, oak barrels are used to correct flavor notes.

• It gets tricky to make moonshine that stands on its own, without the dominant oak characteristics that we usually think of when drinking a whiskey.
• When you can find the good stuff, you’ll know why people love it.” Hrabowsky should know.
• He’s part of a growing movement that’s putting good—and legal—moonshine on the map.

Although it’s still illegal to distill alcohol without a distilled spirits permit, mainstream liquor companies are reinventing the spirit, making their hooch in distilleries and marketing it to the masses.

Why is moonshine so powerful?

Why Is Moonshine Illegal? – Moonshine is an alcoholic drink that is made illegally and typically in secret. The main ingredient in moonshine is corn mash, which is mixed with water and then distilled. The distilling process is what makes it so potent and can also make it dangerous.

• If the distillation process isn’t done correctly, it can contain high levels of methanol, which can be toxic or even deadly.
• Moonshine has been around for centuries and remains popular today.
• There are a number of reasons why people continue to make and drink moonshine, even though it’s illegal.
• For one, it’s often cheaper than buying alcohol from a store.

And, since it is made illegally, there’s a certain cachet and appeal that comes with drinking it. If you’re curious about how it’s made or want to try some yourself, be sure to do your research first and take appropriate safety precautions. Moonshine can be dangerous if not made correctly, so it’s important to know what you’re doing before you start distilling your own alcohol.

Is moonshine still illegal in US?

Home Distilling While individuals of legal drinking age may produce wine or beer at home for personal or family use, Federal law strictly prohibits individuals from producing distilled spirits at home (see 26 United States Code (U.S.C.) 5042(a)(2) and 5053(e)).

Within title 26 of the United States Code, section 5601 sets out criminal penalties for activities including the following. Offenses under this section are felonies that are punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for each offense.

• 5601(a)(1) – Possession of an unregistered still.
• 5601(a)(2) – Engaging in business as a distiller without filing an application and receiving notice of registration.
• 5601(a)(6) – Distilling on a prohibited premises. (Under 26 U.S.C.5178(a)(1)(B), a distilled spirits plant may not be located in a residence or in sheds, yards, or enclosures connected to a residence.)
• 5601(a)(7) – Unlawful production or use of material fit for production of distilled spirits.
• 5601(a)(8) – Unlawful production of distilled spirits.
• 5601(a)(11) – Purchase, receipt, and/or processing of distilled spirits when the person who does so knows or has reasonable grounds to believe that Federal excise tax has not been paid on the spirits.
• 5601(a)(12) – Removal or concealment of distilled spirits on which tax has not been paid.

Under 26 U.S.C.5602, engaging in business as a distiller with intent to defraud the United States of tax is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both. Under 26 U.S.C.5604(a)(1), transporting, possessing, buying, selling, or transferring any distilled spirit unless the container bears the closure required by 26 U.S.C.5301(d) (i.e., a closure that must be broken in order to open the container) is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a fine of up to $10,000, or both, for each offense.

1. Under 26 U.S.C.5613, all distilled spirits not closed, marked, and branded as required by law and the TTB regulations shall be forfeited to the United States.
2. In addition, 26 U.S.C.5615(1) provides that unregistered stills and/or distilling apparatus also will be forfeited.
3. Under 26 U.S.C.5615(3), whenever any person carries on the business of a distiller without having given the required bond or with the intent to defraud the United States of tax on distilled spirits, the personal property of that person located in the distillery, and that person’s interest in the tract of land on which the still is located, shall be forfeited to the United States.

Under 26 U.S.C.5686, possessing liquor or property intended to be used in violation of the law is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. Such liquor and property is also subject to the seizure and forfeiture provisions in 26 U.S.C.5688.

Under 26 U.S.C.7201, any person who willfully attempts to evade or defeat any Internal Revenue Code tax (including the tax on distilled spirits) has committed a felony and shall be fined up to $100,000, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both, plus the cost of prosecution. Under 26 U.S.C.7301, any property subject to tax, or raw materials and/or equipment for the production of such property, in the possession of any person for the purpose of being sold or removed in violation of the internal revenue laws may be seized and shall be forfeited to the United States.

How Whisky is made – 3D animation about the production of Whisky (remake 2020)

In addition, any property (including aircraft, vehicles, and vessels) used to transport or used as a container for such property or materials may be seized and shall be forfeited to the United States. Further, 26 U.S.C.7302 adds that it is unlawful to possess any property intended for use, or which has been used, in violation of the internal revenue laws; no property rights shall exist in any such property.

Is it safe to drink moonshine straight?

Definitely! Moonshine is traditionally sipped straight, right out of the jar. You can also drink it in shots.

Did Jack Daniels start moonshine?

From Moonshine To Whiskey: The History Of Jack Daniel’s TGR Staff – 09/20/2021 Jasper Newton “Jack” Daniel was the man behind, The story of how he created his first batch of moonshine is shrouded in myth and legend, but what we do know is that by 1866 Jack had built a whiskey distillery on Lynchburg’s main street.

He named it after himself so people would remember him as the legendary figure who put Tennessee Whiskey on the map. Jack left home in 1864 and had was taken in by Reverend Dan Call, on top of being a pastor, Dan, and his slave were known for making whiskey. It was here at the Call family farm that he learned the art of distilling.

A few years later Jack would hire Nearest to be the Head Distiller at Jack Daniel’s. Jack even opened two bars in Lynchburg’s town square, the White Rabbit and Red Dog saloons. As a successful businessman, Jack had a taste for the finer things in life and was known to be a dapper dresser, he also carried a pocket watch.

1. In 2000, his 1892 Patek Philippe pocket was sold at auction to the Patek Philippe Museum in Geneva, Switzerland where it is on display.
2. In 1904, Jack Daniel’s Old No.7 takes the gold medal at the World’s Fair in St.
3. Louis, Missouri.
4. Jack wouldn’t see many of the awards, in 1906 after being unable to open his safe, Jack kicks it out of frustration.

The kick broke his toe and the resulting injury and infection was something he would never fully recover from. Some claim that this is just a tall tale, but it is the official story according to the distillery. Since Jack had never married or had children, he would pass control of the company over to his nephews in 1907.

Jack would pass away in 1911 at the age of 62. Jack’s nephew Lem Motlow bought out his brother and would go on to run the company for the next 40 years. Just a few years after inheriting the distillery, Motlow would face the unexpected, a state law in Tennesee baring the production and sale of alcoholic beverages.

They happened to be in one of the first states to enact prohibition. The ban on drinking would go nationwide in 1920. When Federal prohibition ended in 1933, Tennessee kept it in place statewide, it would take Lem Motlow running for the state senate to push through legislation to lift the statewide ban in 1937.

• This allowed Motlow to reopen his family’s distillery and resume production of Jack Daniel’s No.7.
• But just two short years later a new law would pass, called “local option” allowing each county to decide whether or not to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages.
• Moore County, home of Jack Daniel’s decided to become a dry county, leaving America’s oldest registered distillery in a dry county.

The history of Jack Daniel’s and Tennessee whiskey is long, but it’s one that deserves to be told. We hope you found this article interesting; if so, please share it with your friends! To learn more about the world of bourbon and American whiskeys in general, make sure to check out some other articles under “.” : From Moonshine To Whiskey: The History Of Jack Daniel’s

Does moonshine taste like whiskey?

Moonshine – Put simply, moonshine is untaxed whiskey – although that’s no longer the case. Making moonshine started early in American history when the new US government imposed a tax on whiskey and spirits to help cover the American Revolution’s expenses.

Because of the rich heritage of moonshine recipes, many distillers opt to maintain the moniker ‘moonshine’ even though moonshine is legal and is taxed. Moonshiners in the past didn’t have an absolute definition for what constituted moonshine. Moonshiners across the country employed various ingredients, including corn, rye, and sugar.

Moonshine has a flavor that is more like vodka than a dark-colored whiskey. This is because historically, moonshine is seldom matured, and obtaining and keeping oak barrels for maturing secretly would’ve been extremely difficult. However, because there weren’t any legal criteria, the flavor varied.

Is white whiskey just vodka?

White Whiskey: Is It Vodka? – The white whiskey and vodka comparison is often made on the internet, but the only real similarity is the color. While whiskey can be made into vodka, vodka can not be put into barrels and be dubbed whiskey. Vodka MUST exceed 95% ABV during the distillation process while whiskey can NOT exceed 95% ABV during this time.

1. Many associate vodkas with potatoes and whiskey with corn, but vodka can also be made with grain, in fact, vodka can be made with almost anything.
2. Vodka is distilled and cut at a different ABV than whiskey is.
3. Strictly regulated, whiskey must contain certain percentages of corn or grain, i.e., rye must contain 51% rye, while bourbon must contain 51% corn,

Though white whiskey is unaged, it MUST touch the inside of a barrel in order to be legally considered whiskey. For how long, does not USUALLY matter t he keyword here is “touch”. Though some states do have laws on the matter. For example, Illinois will only consider a spirit kept in a barrel for AT LEAST 24 hours a legal whiskey.

Should I drink moonshine on ice?

Drinking Moonshine Straight and as a Substitution – It’s that characteristic (if unexpected) smoothness that draws in first-time moonshine drinkers. “If you want to try the spirit just as it is and you’re drinking it straight, I always recommend pouring it over ice,” Elder says “In fact, I keep my bottles on ice when I do my tastings.” The pure, straightforward taste of unflavored moonshine makes it incredibly versatile when it comes to cocktails, especially as a substitute for other alcohols.

“It is comparable to vodka so the next time you’re going to do a vodka cranberry or vodka soda, try moonshine instead,” Elder suggests. Another of his favorites is to update the Bloody Mary by using 2 ounces of moonshine over 12 ounces of ice and Bloody Mary mix before straining it and topping it with more moonshine-soaked vegetables.

To easily make your own, Elder says, drain and save the liquid from a pickle jar, keeping the pickles in the jar, then fill the jar up halfway with moonshine before topping up with the pickle juice. For a kick, add a few dashes of hot sauce before closing, shaking, and letting sit in the refrigerator for a few hours to marinate. Credit: Ole Smoky Moonshine Historically, one of the most enticing aspects of crafting moonshine was its relative simplicity and speed to make, which remains largely true to this day. Since the liquor isn’t aged, batches can be turned around in a matter of days without the need for barrels and storage facilities (hence less chance of gaining the attention of the police and tax collectors).

Are moonshine hangovers bad?

Everything You Need to Know about Moonshine Moonshine carries with it the stigma of a backwoods drink that can double as an engine degreaser. However for those in the know, can also be a top shelf spirit that connoisseurs around the world will gladly put a pinky in the air for a taste.

1. The number one thing you hear about Moonshine when talking to laymen is, “Won’t that stuff make you blind?” The answer is no, drinking moonshine will not make you blind,
2. At least not any more so than other types of booze, we’ve all had those regretful mornings.
3. The genesis of this concern comes from the fact that a byproduct of distilling, known as methanol, can indeed make one blind.

Combine that fact with Moonshine’s unregulated history and voila. horror stories have long lives. Like so many things, distilling is both science and art, A great distiller has his art down to science, making his product stand out in every way possible. This includes the mash, the temperatures, the timing, and any infusions he may have up his sleeve. When doing a run of Moonshine, you heat your mash to a desired temperature, The mash has been fermenting, and is a slurry of all the stuff you want mixed with a bunch of stuff you don’t want. By heating it, you’re taking advantage of the fact that the stuff you want will evaporate at different temperatures than the stuff you don’t want.

• When you begin heating, the first distillate to come out the other end of your still is known as the foreshots,
• The foreshots are mostly methanol, and they will make you blind.
• Next, comes the heads,
• The heads won’t make you blind, but the volatile alcohols they contain will give you a whopping hangover.

The product also smells and tastes terrible, this is because of the acetone that is present. After the heads come the hearts, The hearts are arguably the most important step that separates delicious Moonshine from engine degreaser, Think of this transition as a gradient and you begin to see what makes it so difficult.

Your first and last jars of hearts can be difficult to time, and often what smells/tastes ok to you will be laughed at by a seasoned shiner. Finally we get to the tails, which get oily from water and proteins that are present. If you’re drinking oily hooch, you’re drinking tails. Gross. If you want to learn more about this subject, Mile Hi Distilling has a great article on,

If you check online spirits retailers or if you have a decent spirits retailer near you, chances are good that you’ll find a great brand of Moonshine there. Unfortunately, there’s no way to say what brand is better than another because they all have their own corner of the market.

• Maybe you like the traditional sweet-corn taste that comes from a full blown corn Whiskey mash.
• If so, check out Tim Smith’s Climax Moonshine.
• Or perhaps you’re into flavored Moonshine made from a sugar mash that is built on a more neutral-tasting foundation.
• If this is your style, check out,
• If you have distillers close to you, go give them a taste.

If you smell a sweet ethanol and corn coming off the shine, you’re probably in the right place. We’re here to help people try new things more often. Not only do we send out personalized samples & complimentary bottles, we give people access to rare and original Spirits, invite them to great events, and keep them educated & entertained with booze-themed content. Get the freshly distilled booze news, new releases, and awesome deals in your inbox before everyone else, : Everything You Need to Know about Moonshine

Why does moonshine taste bad?

Drinking Your First Batch – If this is your first time making ‘shine and it tastes weird, it’s probably because you haven’t worn in your still yet. You should always discard your first batch—metallic residue could seep into your product. Your second batch will taste a lot purer.

Does moonshine taste like whiskey?

Moonshine – Put simply, moonshine is untaxed whiskey – although that’s no longer the case. Making moonshine started early in American history when the new US government imposed a tax on whiskey and spirits to help cover the American Revolution’s expenses.

• Because of the rich heritage of moonshine recipes, many distillers opt to maintain the moniker ‘moonshine’ even though moonshine is legal and is taxed.
• Moonshiners in the past didn’t have an absolute definition for what constituted moonshine.
• Moonshiners across the country employed various ingredients, including corn, rye, and sugar.

Moonshine has a flavor that is more like vodka than a dark-colored whiskey. This is because historically, moonshine is seldom matured, and obtaining and keeping oak barrels for maturing secretly would’ve been extremely difficult. However, because there weren’t any legal criteria, the flavor varied.

Is it good to drink moonshine?

Methanol Risks – While the flammability of the moonshine distillation process is dangerous in and of itself, the health effects of moonshine-methanol consumption pose an even bigger threat. More people have died from drinking moonshine than by any explosions at stills, despite the few old and handmade stills that are left.

1. A major risk of drinking moonshine is methanol blindness.
2. Detecting methanol upon the first step is impossible, and consuming more of it will simply get the person drunker.
3. However, it’s eventually metabolized as its toxic metabolite, formic acid, in the body, which can have an extremely harmful effect.

Just 10 milliliters (ml) of methanol is all it takes to cause permanent optic and partial nerve damage, if not complete blindness. As little as 30 ml of methanol is lethal, and, for reference, a standard shot glass in the U.S. holds 40 ml. Old stills use car radiators during the distilling process, which often contain lead soldering and remnants of antifreeze glycol products that could contaminate and add toxins to the moonshine.

• Larger batches of moonshine are more likely to contain methanol.
• Because methanol is vaporized or evaporated at a lower temperature than alcohol, the first liquid produced by the distillation process usually contains methanol.
• While moonshiners have adopted new ways to discard methanol, some moonshiners will actually add it back into the batch to make the drink more potent.

However, because these processes aren’t regulated, there’s no way of knowing whether the illicit alcohol actually contains any methanol.

Is moonshine the strongest type of alcohol?

Can Moonshine Be Dangerous? – Moonshine can be hazardous on two levels: during the distillation process and when consumed. What does the label “XXX” on a moonshine jug mean ? During the distillation process, alcohol fumes are created, which are extremely flammable, The flammable fumes are one of the main reasons why moonshine stills are usually found outside, despite making them more visible to law authorities.

• If you’re trapped inside, the risk of vaporous explosions is too large.
• Methanol’s hazardous potential is undetected at first taste.
• It will merely make individuals drunker.
• However, methanol may be exceedingly harmful to a person’s health once it has been metabolized.
• It just takes ten milliliters (ml) of methanol to permanently damage the optic nerve and result in partial, if not full, blindness.

Also Read: Difference Between Moonshine & Vodka FAQs Can homemade moonshine kill you? Yes, homemade moonshine can kill you if you consume too much. But, can moonshine go bad ? Since moonshine is not distilled properly, it contains pure alcohol, which is very toxic.

Moonshine containing high quantities of methanol can cause blindness or even death, Is moonshine stronger than other alcohol? Yes, moonshine is stronger than other alcohol if it is made appropriately. Because it hasn’t been aged, it is just extremely powerful alcohol with a very strong flavor or “kick.” It’s generally quite strong, up to 150 proof (about 75 percent alcohol).

What do you think is the difference between moonshine and whiskey ? How much alcohol is in a shot of moonshine? Usually, 1.5 ounces or a “shot” of distilled spirits or liquor contains 80-proof or 40% alcohol by volume. However, it depends on the variety.

Is whiskey the healthiest alcohol?

As well as having an actively positive effect on the body, whisky is also the healthiest alcohol you can drink. It contains no fat and hardly any sugar or carbohydrates. It barely alters the level of sugar in your blood, making it a better choice for diabetics than other alcohol.