Moonshine is as American as apple pie and baseball, and you can probably find it for sale in most liquor stores these days. If youve never had shine, maybe its because you think its paint thinner in a mason jar; nothing could be further from the truth, at least these days. Its strong, yes, but moonshine alcohol content may not be as much as you think. In fact, some alcoholic drinks even have a higher proof!
If youve looked through our infused moonshine recipes, youll see that you can easily swap vodka or Everclear in for the moonshine; theres a reason for that. Moonshine is really just un-aged whiskey. Made from a mash of cornmeal, sugar, yeast, and water, the liquid that comes out of the distilling process is clear, which is why you may also hear it called white whiskey. Technically, you can use rye or barley instead of corn, but almost all traditional moonshine is made with corn, which is why you may also see moonshine called corn whiskey sometimes.
Moonshine usually has an ABV of 40% but can sometimes be as high as 60%-80% ABV. Alcohol content can be converted to proof by multiplying it by two. So, 40% ABV is 80-proof.
Absolutely! We highly recommend buying moonshine from a qualified distiller (like us!) to make sure your moonshine has been distilled the right way.
While moonshine is generally considered to be a type of whiskey, moonshine taste and proof can vary from one batch to another for a few reasons.
No. That would be insane, and we don’t recommend trying to drink anything that is 100% alcohol. It is unsafe for consumption and could lead to serious health issues. If someone is bragging that they made 100% alcohol moonshine, knock the bottle out of their hands and into the trash.
The trial-by-fire method of measuring alcohol percentage was abandoned about 100 years later. In the 17th century, the government started using more scientific methods to determine whether or not a drink contained alcohol. They tested the density of the drink and compared it with the density of water to figure out what the alcohol content was. If the drink had 12/13 of the gravity of water at the same temperature, it was considered 100 proof, equivalent to 57.15% ABV by today’s standards (which is a pretty strong drink).
The most common measurement used to determine the proof of alcohol is the alcohol by volume (ABV) percentage, which is usually expressed as a number on a scale that ranges from 0 to 100, with 100 being 100% alcohol.
What’s the Fermentation Process of Moonshine?
The fermentation process is the same, and what comes out of the moonshine still is the same thing that comes out of any other kind of still; it depends on what your main ingredient is. If its potatoes, you get vodka. If its barley, its Scotch. And if its corn, you get bourbon. The only fundamental difference between moonshine and bourbon is the aging process, which is what gives bourbon its distinctive color and taste.
When we talk about the alcohol content of moonshine, though, its important to note the difference between the version made in a commercial distillery and the one made in a homemade still hidden on the side of a Kentucky mountain. Technically, moonshine means a liquor that is made illegally. But in recent years, moonshine has become so popular across the United States that its being made and sold legally and openly in many places.
How to tell Good Moonshine from Bad Moonshine
FAQ
How strong is 100% moonshine?
Is moonshine the strongest type of alcohol?
What is moonshine and why is it illegal?
Is moonshine 100 proof?