Nowadays, many people want to move away from anything mass produced and opt instead for something they have made themselves. After all, if you know exactly how much effort went into the production process, you'll appreciate the end result much more. Beer, cheese, bread and preserves are just some of the things that you can make at home but if you like a challenge and doing something unusual, you may want to invest in a pot distiller and a good moonshine recipe.
Moonshine is normally associated with Appalachian farmers who would clandestinely turn at least part of their harvest into a much more valuable product. The liquor that they distilled could fetch a higher price than the produce from the land and they could also transport much more of it at a time, earning them a handsome bit of extra income. You will find different versions of strong, home-distilled liquors all over the world.
To make a moonshine-type liquor, you first need to have the mash from which the drink will be distilled. The Appalachian version is made with corn mash, which contains water, yeast, sugar and, as its name suggests, corn. The amount of sugar will determine the alcohol content while the corn provides the flavor. The yeast allows the fermentation process to start.
The mash has to ferment for a few days. When it is ready, you can strain the liquid, which by this time is similar to beer, and drink it. However, to create something much more fiery, the mash has to be distilled first, by heating it in a special distilling pot. The pot has a condenser at the top and as the vapors from the fermented mash rise to the top, they enter this condenser. Here they cool and condense into the clear liquid known as moonshine.
Not every version of moonshine uses corn mash. In Scotland, for example, wheat or barley is used, while in Ireland, Finland and Iceland, potatoes are the ingredient of choice. Russians may opt for beets and in many Asian countries rice is used. Sometimes distillers in the Democratic Republic of Congo use cassava or even plantains.
Often distillers will use fruits instead of grains or starches. Sugar cane is a common ingredient in the countries of the Caribbean and Central America. In Eastern Europe, a drink made from plums is popular but you can also find versions using apricots, cherries, peaches or even walnuts, each with its own distinct flavor.
Where wine is made, grapes are abundant. For this reason, wine-producing regions are often home to home-distilled liquors with a grape base. These can be of very high quality, such as the 'witblits', which means 'white lightning', made in South Africa and sometimes sold in liquor stores in that country.
Before you rush out and buy a distilling pot, you first need to check the legality of producing alcoholic drinks in your area. In most countries it is highly illegal to make your own liquor and you can face hefty fines or even a prison sentence. However, it may be possible to get a distilling license in your country and make a drink that you can use for home consumption or for earning an extra income.
Moonshine is normally associated with Appalachian farmers who would clandestinely turn at least part of their harvest into a much more valuable product. The liquor that they distilled could fetch a higher price than the produce from the land and they could also transport much more of it at a time, earning them a handsome bit of extra income. You will find different versions of strong, home-distilled liquors all over the world.
To make a moonshine-type liquor, you first need to have the mash from which the drink will be distilled. The Appalachian version is made with corn mash, which contains water, yeast, sugar and, as its name suggests, corn. The amount of sugar will determine the alcohol content while the corn provides the flavor. The yeast allows the fermentation process to start.
The mash has to ferment for a few days. When it is ready, you can strain the liquid, which by this time is similar to beer, and drink it. However, to create something much more fiery, the mash has to be distilled first, by heating it in a special distilling pot. The pot has a condenser at the top and as the vapors from the fermented mash rise to the top, they enter this condenser. Here they cool and condense into the clear liquid known as moonshine.
Not every version of moonshine uses corn mash. In Scotland, for example, wheat or barley is used, while in Ireland, Finland and Iceland, potatoes are the ingredient of choice. Russians may opt for beets and in many Asian countries rice is used. Sometimes distillers in the Democratic Republic of Congo use cassava or even plantains.
Often distillers will use fruits instead of grains or starches. Sugar cane is a common ingredient in the countries of the Caribbean and Central America. In Eastern Europe, a drink made from plums is popular but you can also find versions using apricots, cherries, peaches or even walnuts, each with its own distinct flavor.
Where wine is made, grapes are abundant. For this reason, wine-producing regions are often home to home-distilled liquors with a grape base. These can be of very high quality, such as the 'witblits', which means 'white lightning', made in South Africa and sometimes sold in liquor stores in that country.
Before you rush out and buy a distilling pot, you first need to check the legality of producing alcoholic drinks in your area. In most countries it is highly illegal to make your own liquor and you can face hefty fines or even a prison sentence. However, it may be possible to get a distilling license in your country and make a drink that you can use for home consumption or for earning an extra income.
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