Technically, moonshine is a homemade, unaged high proof grain alcohol, typically around 190 proof. The process to make moonshine from scratch, starting with a corn mash to distilling is quite difficult and illegal without a license.
How do u make moonshine?
Place your mash pot on its heat source and pour in 5 gallons of water. Heat water to 165 °F. Turn off heat source when you reach 165 °F and immediately stir in 8.5 pounds of Flaked Corn Maize. Stir mixture continuously for 7 minutes.
How long does moonshine take to make?
Let the mash work as long as the head, or foam, seems to be rising, but it will ferment out and go sour, so about 10 to 14 days is maximum, depending on temperature. Yeast acts more slowly at lower temps.
What is the main ingredient of moonshine?
“Moonshine” is distilled from the fermented sugar of a malt grains like oats, cornmeal, or wheat. A strong alcohol, the recipe for moonshine is very basic, which is why it has been popular throughout the years as something that can be made by amateur and professional distillers alike.
What makes moonshine illegal?
So why is moonshine still illegal? Because the liquor is worth more to the government than beer or wine. Uncle Sam takes an excise tax of $2.14 for each 750-milliliter bottle of 80-proof spirits, compared with 21 cents for a bottle of wine (of 14 percent alcohol or less) and 5 cents for a can of beer.
What percent alcohol is moonshine?
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. The distilling process is the key to a spirit’s alcohol content.
What kind of corn is used for moonshine?
What Type of Corn Should I use in my Moonshine? Our favorite type of corn to be used in moonshine is cracked, dry yellow corn. This type of corn is considered field corn and it needs to be clean and food-grade. It is recommended to use air dried corn rather than gas dried.
How long does it take 5 gallons of mash to ferment?
Allow it to ferment for 4-5 days.
If you use bread yeast, it may take up to 1 week for the mash to ferment.
What equipment do you need to make moonshine?
Boil Pot Thermometer (measuring water temp during boil) Wort Chiller (for cooling mash before introduction of yeast) 7 Gallon Fermenter – Plastic Bucket (for initial fermentation) Carboy Thermometer (measuring fermentation temp)
How much Heads do you throw out?
Always discard the foreshots — they make up around 5% or less of the product collected during a run. Throw out the first 30 ml on a 1 gallon run, the first 150 ml on a 5 gallon run, or the first 300 ml on a 10 gallon run. Heads come off of the still directly after the foreshots. Simply put, they taste and smell bad.
How much does it cost to make a gallon of moonshine?
It costs around $8 per gallon for the sugar and wheat to make the moonshine. The selling price is around $25 a gallon if sold in bulk, or $40 for retail price.
How much moonshine will a gallon of mash make?
For the instant gratification seekers in the crowd, here’s the short answer: A 1 gallon run will yield 3-6 cups of alcohol.
How much sugar do I need for 5 gallons of mash?
How Many Pounds of Sugar to Make 5 Gallons of Mash? A 5-gallon of mash requires 5 pounds of white sugar when using 5 pounds of corn which will yield a 15% finished product of 5 gallons or 3 quarts.
Is moonshine stronger than vodka?
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.
What proof is moonshine usually?
On average, a proof moonshine could range somewhere between 100 to 150 proof. When you convert that alcohol by volume, 150 proof is equivalent to 75% alcohol by volume. Now that’s high!
Is store bought moonshine the same?
No real moonshiner accepts store-bought as the real thing.” Sarah LeRoy, of Piedmont Distillery in Madison, North Carolina, is familiar with the argument. “I’ve heard people say our products are not real moonshine,” she says. “But that’s based on a technical definition of illegality.
When was moonshining illegal?
Officially, the US government regards moonshine as a “fanciful term” and doesn’t regulate its use. But distillers are required to hold permits to ensure both traceability and quality control of alcoholic beverages. Until 1978, it was illegal to home-brew liquour or beer.
Is moonshine the strongest alcohol?
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).
