Moonshine 101: What You Need to Get Started
Ingredients
Moonshine is a wholly unique and traditional form of distilled spirits. In order to make your own batch, you'll need the following checklist of ingredients.
Sugar (or any fermentable sugar source like honey, corn syrup, molasses, etc.)
Yeast (regular baking yeast or distilling/turbo yeast)
Water
Equipment (fermenter, thermometer, hydrometer, distilling still, etc.)
Making the Mash
The first step to making your own moonshine is making the mash. For this process, you'll need to combine the chosen sugar source with water and yeast, and then allow that mixture to ferment.
The fermentable sugar source will feed the yeast, and over time the yeast will convert this sugar into alcohol. The type of sugar source and type of yeast you choose will affect the flavor and potency of your moonshine.
Distilling the Mash
Once the mash has fermented and you have your 'beer', it's time to begin distilling. This is the process of separating the liquid into its component parts - alcohol and water. The alcohol will have a higher boiling point than the water, so by slowly heating the 'beer', the alcohol will vaporize and be collected while what is left is mostly water.
Aging & Enjoying
Once your moonshine has been collected from the still, you may find it best to age it a bit. This can be done in wood barrels or steel containers, and some prefer to add other ingredients like fruit or herbs to the aging container. Much like bourbon or whiskey, the aging process can really change the character and flavor of the finished product.
Once it's properly aged, it's time to enjoy your homemade moonshine! Each batch is unique and the alcohol content will vary, so take extra caution when consuming Moonshine.