What is moonshine whisky?
The slang term moonshine was originally used to describe illegal spirits. The word indicates the illegal activity which usually takes place at night – at moonshine.
Today, the name is used for whiskies which are produced using the recipes and production methods that illegal distillers were using during Prohibition. So if you buy a moonshine whisky in a liquor store today – whether you’re in Switzerland or the US – you don’t have to worry about the legality of the beverage.
The history of moonshine whisky
Like in Europe, in the US there were many trials to make the consumption of alcohol more profitable for the state. This was why Alexander Hamilton imposed the first whisky taxes at the end of the 18th century. This resulted in the Pennsylvania Whisky Rebellion. The farmers that didn’t rebel openly produced their whisky secretly at home to escape the new taxes.
Of course, the real moonshine boom began during the American Prohibition. While some tried smuggling whiskies from Canada or Europe, others started their own secret whisky operations at home. To avoid suspicion during police inspections, most distillers repurposed household equipment to create their own distilling devices.
Unfortunately, the illegal production methods also resulted in a few problems: Whisky that was produced beyond any type of regulation was often low in quality and even led to people becoming sick. Poisonings and other issues were not rare and often caused long-term harm.
In the last ten years, moonshine whisky has sneaked back onto the market. And this time it’s completely legal! The inspiration often comes from old family recipes that have been passed on for generations.
How is moonshine whisky produced?
To produce moonshine whisky, the corn is first ground and soaked in hot water. Then malt and yeast are added to start the fermentation. The mixture of corn, water, malt and yeast is called mash and is heated slowly while stirring continuously. When the temperature reaches 78 °C, the alcohol starts to evaporate, which means distillation has started. The vaporised alcohol is led through a pipe into a thump keg – a simple cask in which the alcohol is further vaporised to separate itself from the last mash rests. From here, it flows through a tube into the “worm box”, which is filled with cold water. This causes the alcohol to condensate and creates the liquid distillate.
How to drink moonshine whisky
Many producers choose to release their moonshine whiskies in mason jars for a more authentic packaging. However, mason jars are not only a great way to package moonshine; the whisky can also be enjoyed directly from them. One reason why this is a good idea is that transferring the whisky into a glass from the mason jar can be tricky.
What moonshine whisky brands are there?
The most popular moonshine brands include Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine, Firefly Moonshine Whisky, Palmetto Moonshine Whisky, Midnight Moon Moonshine Whisky and O‘Donnell Moonshine.
Moonshine whisky at Gustero
In our shop, you will find dozens of moonshine whiskies in a variety of flavours, including nuts, strawberries, apple pie, blueberry, raspberry, pumpkin and cherry. Discover the deep aromas of moonshine whisky for yourself!
