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.
Most people think of moonshine as something that is made by farmers in the Appalachian Mountains. It's a type of liquor that tends to be so strong that drinking it feels like pouring fire down your throat. However, similar versions are made all over the world and have different names. What they all have in common is that they're usually distilled at home and contain a lot of alcohol.
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.
You don't have to use corn to make your own liquor. Wheat and barley are good alternatives for a drink with a more Scottish flavor. In Asia, rice is a popular ingredient to use while in parts of Scandinavia and Ireland, potatoes are the starch of choice. Congolese distillers often opt for plantains or cassavas, both of which are staple foods in the DRC, and call the end product lotoko. In Russia, some distillers use beets.
Using fruit as your main ingredient can give a special flavor to your liquor. In much of Europe, you will find versions made from cherries, peaches, apricots or even nuts. Eastern Europeans often choose to use plums and in the countries of the Caribbean, homemade liquors distilled from sugar cane are very common.
In the world's wine regions, grapes are naturally in abundance. This means that distillers in these areas often choose grapes as the main ingredient for what then becomes a drink not unlike brandy. A very strong, clear liquor known as 'witblits', or 'white lightning', is a highly rated product from South Africa's wine region and is often available in local liquor stores.
By nature, moonshine is actually an illegally distilled drink. In most countries distilling your own liquor can land you a stiff fine or some prison time. However, in many areas you may distill your own liquor for personal use if you have a special license to do so. Therefore, check the local legislation before you invest in an expensive distilling pot.
Most people think of moonshine as something that is made by farmers in the Appalachian Mountains. It's a type of liquor that tends to be so strong that drinking it feels like pouring fire down your throat. However, similar versions are made all over the world and have different names. What they all have in common is that they're usually distilled at home and contain a lot of alcohol.
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.
You don't have to use corn to make your own liquor. Wheat and barley are good alternatives for a drink with a more Scottish flavor. In Asia, rice is a popular ingredient to use while in parts of Scandinavia and Ireland, potatoes are the starch of choice. Congolese distillers often opt for plantains or cassavas, both of which are staple foods in the DRC, and call the end product lotoko. In Russia, some distillers use beets.
Using fruit as your main ingredient can give a special flavor to your liquor. In much of Europe, you will find versions made from cherries, peaches, apricots or even nuts. Eastern Europeans often choose to use plums and in the countries of the Caribbean, homemade liquors distilled from sugar cane are very common.
In the world's wine regions, grapes are naturally in abundance. This means that distillers in these areas often choose grapes as the main ingredient for what then becomes a drink not unlike brandy. A very strong, clear liquor known as 'witblits', or 'white lightning', is a highly rated product from South Africa's wine region and is often available in local liquor stores.
By nature, moonshine is actually an illegally distilled drink. In most countries distilling your own liquor can land you a stiff fine or some prison time. However, in many areas you may distill your own liquor for personal use if you have a special license to do so. Therefore, check the local legislation before you invest in an expensive distilling pot.
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