Making something from scratch is not only a great way to let your creative spirit soar but you are very likely to have an end product that is much better than what is available on the supermarket shelves. With the right equipment and ingredients it is possible to create homemade versions of almost anything, including liquor. A proven moonshine recipe and a distilling pot will help you make a drink that will surely put a smile on your face.
Moonshine goes by many names, depending on where in the world it is made and what the main ingredients are. However, no matter what you call it, the drink is essentially a very strong liquor with a high alcohol content and is distilled in small batches, usually illegally. Especially in the Appalachian region of the United States, farmers would often turn their harvests into drink because it was easier to transport over long distances and could earn them a handsome income.
The drink that comes from the Appalachian region is distilled from corn mash. This is a mixture of mashed corn, yeast, sugar and pure water. The corn is mainly responsible for the drink's flavor. The reason for adding yeast is that the mash has to ferment so that the sugar can be turned into alcohol and provide the kick you want to get from each fiery drop.
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 goes by many names, depending on where in the world it is made and what the main ingredients are. However, no matter what you call it, the drink is essentially a very strong liquor with a high alcohol content and is distilled in small batches, usually illegally. Especially in the Appalachian region of the United States, farmers would often turn their harvests into drink because it was easier to transport over long distances and could earn them a handsome income.
The drink that comes from the Appalachian region is distilled from corn mash. This is a mixture of mashed corn, yeast, sugar and pure water. The corn is mainly responsible for the drink's flavor. The reason for adding yeast is that the mash has to ferment so that the sugar can be turned into alcohol and provide the kick you want to get from each fiery drop.
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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