Whether you’re making it yourself, purchasing it, or even receiving it as a gift, drinking moonshine can be the perfect way to unwind after a long day – but if you’re rummaging around in your pantry and find an old bottle, should you be worried that it’s expired? How long does this alcoholic beverage stay … Read more
We’re going to go out on a limb and make the bold assumption that you enjoy your own homebrew occasionally. Now suppose you have finished the distillation process, and your moonshine has a harsh taste and smell. You are probably feeling a bit defeated, seeing as you will have to water down your product to … Read more
In the past decade, moonshine has experienced a surge in popularity and is now part of mainstream pop culture. Although moonshine has deep roots as a regional liquor of the South, it has expanded its terrain enormously in recent years. The rise in popularity is partly due to the reality show Moonshiners, which debuted on … Read more
What’s in a name? Well, in the case of moonshine: a lot of history and more than a little bit of mystery. If you’re like me, when you think of moonshine, you likely picture a torrid past filled with bearded bootleggers, stock cars racing from the law, and other criminal misdeeds. As it turns out, … Read more
Recently, I attended a wedding in North Carolina where the hosts gave a small jug of moonshine to all attendees. Impressed by the “shine’s” smooth taste (and potency), I immediately began researching how to make the infamous liquor myself upon arriving back home. Initially created in the late 19th century by poor farmers who struggled to … Read more
When I hear the word “moonshine,” I am immediately transported back to the ’20s. It was the Prohibition Era in the USA with all the shushing, illegal booze, and speakeasies. I wonder what it really was like because it seems all so glamorous now! One component of that era that has survived to today is … Read more
DISCLAIMER: Making moonshine without a liquor distiller’s license is illegal in most countries and can be dangerous if done incorrectly. The side effects of drinking poorly-made moonshine include permanent blindness, respiratory paralysis, and death. Please use discretion. Moonshine is as old as it is infamous. From the rum runners of the 1700s to the tales … Read more
By now, you’ve probably learned a few interesting facts about moonshine and have a solid understanding of what moonshine is, how it’s made, and where it’s legal to drink. When I think of the word “still,” I can’t help but think of Granny Clampett and her jug marked “XXX” from the 1960s TV comedy The … Read more
Moonshine. Hootch. White Lightning. Mountain dew. Whatever you call it, the home-brewed alcoholic beverage has a long and storied history in the United States. Nowhere is that history more colorful than in the Southern Appalachian Mountains of the eastern U.S. So how and why did moonshining start? Why did the industry thrive in Appalachia? It’s … Read more
Throughout American history, moonshine has held a pretty prominent place for liquor fans and connoisseurs. From the bootleggers during the Prohibition era to the famous “Moonshiners” today, this form of homemade, distilled alcohol has been a go-to drink for countless people for years. It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact definition for what moonshine is; the … Read more