Even if youve never tasted moonshine or dont know if youd recognize it, you probably know it has a dangerous reputation. Indeed, the main thing most people know about moonshine is its not supposed to exist: According to the Cambridge Dictionary, it can simply be defined as “alcohol that is made illegally.” And, as is often the case with forbidden pleasures, the very fact that were not supposed to have moonshine makes it all the more intriguing. As a case in point, the Discovery docudrama “Moonshiners,” which follows a group of proud Appalachian moonshine makers as they attempt to keep distilling while evading law enforcement, has run for 12 seasons — revealing a lasting fascination with moonshine and the rogue distillers who make it.
But as any of the titular characters on “Moonshiners” can tell you, contrary to the claims of Cambridge Dictionarys lexicographers, not just any unlicensed booze qualifies as moonshine. A rural American descendant of whiskey, traditional moonshine is a distilled liquor. Its generally clear and unaged (since hiding large barrels of aging liquor from law enforcement for years at a time was neither practical nor possible). But beyond that, ingredients and flavor profiles can vary widely. Moonshine is not champagne, and theres no official body that defines what it can and cannot contain. Today, there are even legal forms of moonshine. Moonshine has a long and messy history, so lets sort out the details.
While most dictionaries define moonshine simply as illegally produced alcohol, the term is most commonly used in the U.S. to refer to illicitly distilled spirits rather than other fermented beverages such as beer or wine. Beer and wine are made by simply fermenting the base ingredients (barley or fruit) before adding additional flavorings and/or aging the beverage to develop its flavor. Distilled spirits are made by separating the water from the alcohol following initial fermentation. Thus, distilled spirits comprise the alcohol separated out through this process — along with any flavors it may have picked up from the fermented ingredients.
Because of their high alcohol content, distilled spirits have the advantage of a long shelf life, making them a more practical (and potent) option for DIY drink makers and drinkers in the backwoods of rural America, where moonshine-making originated. Many traditional spirits (such as whiskey and bourbon) are aged several years to develop and smooth out their flavors before theyre consumed; traditional moonshine is considered ready for drinking immediately after its made.
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.
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As we said earlier, moonshine can be made from nearly any grain or fruit. However, some work better than others. Our favorite moonshine ingredients include strawberries, cherries, peaches, blackberries, and apples.
In terms of alcohol content, the word “proof” means alcohol percentage. The more alcohol in a beverage, the stronger the drink and the higher the proof. Before getting to the question of what proof is moonshine, though, let’s talk a little more about where the concept of proof came from in the first place.
The first is the ingredients used to make the moonshine. In general, moonshine can be made from grain or fruit. That is why there are so many different flavors and combinations available!
Moonshine vs. bourbon: What’s the difference?
Moonshine and bourbon share common roots, which may be why theyre often thought of together. Both are distilled spirits with origins in the rural U.S. — early American settlers commonly owned stills and made spirits for their own personal use as well as to barter for other goods. The simplest version of such spirits was moonshine, which was a crude spirit made from whatever grain (or fruit or other fermentable) the distiller had on hand. It was served unaged, often going straight from the still to the bottle to the drinker.
As European settlers became more established in the U.S., so did commercial distilling, and by the 1820s, distillers discovered (its unclear how) that aging whiskey in charred barrels gave it a smoother and more complex flavor. Commercial distillers continued to refine their methods for barrel-aging their product, which eventually evolved into todays bourbon. Today, bourbon is officially defined as whiskey with a mash bill of at least 51% corn thats aged in charred oak barrels. It has also been legally declared a uniquely American product, meaning it must be made in the U.S. to be legally marketed as bourbon.
Guide to ‘Shine: Legal vs. Illegal Explained | Moonshiners
Which moonshine brands are legal in the United States?
Here are the ten best legal moonshine brands in the United States. 10. Hudson New York Corn Whiskey Hudson New York Corn Whiskey is brewed at Tuthilltown Spirits Farm Distillery, New York’s first whiskey distillery since prohibition. The distillers use a blend of locally grown corn for their whiskey. 9. Tim Smith’s Climax Moonshine
Is moonshine alcoholic?
Thankfully, today’s legal moonshine sold by commercial distilleries is properly brewed, making it a pleasant and extremely drinkable liquor. But because moonshine is quite alcoholic, one still anticipates a strong alcohol flavor. Most moonshines have a predominant corn flavor unless a different grain is used to make them.
What is the alcohol level of moonshine?
In contrast, the alcohol level of moonshine is typically 40% ABV, but some bottles can go as high as 60% to 80% ABV or possibly even higher than that. Although the effects of moonshine may not be immediately apparent, drinking it will definitely leave you smashed.
What makes a good moonshine?
Given the lack of regulation and standardisation, there is a diverse variety of legal moonshine. As a result, they can all deliver very different flavours. Arguably, a high-quality traditional moonshine should have a strong bouquet of corn both in the nose and on the palate.