Does moonshine expire?

Moonshine has an indefinite shelf life and is one of the strongest alcoholic beverages, like whiskey. On the other hand, flavored moonshine, which contains sugar, has a shorter shelf life but can survive for years after being opened.

How do you know if moonshine is bad?

How to Test for Purity. Folklore tells us one way to test the purity of moonshine is to pour some in a metal spoon and set it on fire. 6 If it burns with a blue flame it is safe, but if it burns with a yellow or red flame, it contains lead, prompting the old saying, "Lead burns red and makes you dead."

Can old moonshine make you sick?

What Happens If You Drink Bad Moonshine? While moonshine doesn't age, it's still possible that you can drink a bad (or even fatal) batch. Improperly made moonshine can be dangerous from the time it's made until the time it's disposed of, even if it's years down the road.

Does moonshine improve with age?

The flavor or characteristics of your moonshine won't improve over time because the spirits aren't exposed to wood that can alter its taste. It will taste exactly the same way after many years of storage.

Can you drink 100 year old moonshine?

It will be fine to drink an old bottle of whiskey that was opened a few years ago, but kept sealed in a pantry for this long period of time. It might not taste great (especially if it is almost empty), but it is safe to drink.

Does Alcohol Go Bad, Stale or Expire?

Can you drink 30 year old moonshine?

Is it safe to drink old moonshine? Yes, it's still safe to drink old moonshine as long as you store moonshine correctly and tightly. You can taste your old bottle of moonshine if it's still bad or drinkable. A bad moonshine has an unpleasant flavor and is off-color.

How long can I keep moonshine?

If you have stored your bottle of pure moonshine correctly and purchased it from a reputable dealer, the shelf life of the alcohol is indefinite. If you store your flavored moonshine in the same way, the shelf life is around 2-3 years.

Is moonshine just unaged whiskey?

Moonshine purists define the spirit as a homemade, unaged whiskey, marked by its clear color, corn base, and high alcohol content—sometimes peaking as high as 190 proof. Traditionally, it was produced in a homemade still and bottled in a mason jar.

Can you drink moonshine straight?

Definitely! Moonshine is traditionally sipped straight, right out of the jar. You can also drink it in shots.

Why is moonshine illegal?

So why is moonshine still illegal? Because the liquor is worth more to the government than beer or wine. Uncle Sam takes an excise tax of $2.14 for each 750-milliliter bottle of 80-proof spirits, compared with 21 cents for a bottle of wine (of 14 percent alcohol or less) and 5 cents for a can of beer.

Why is my moonshine blue?

While it may not happen all the time, moonshiners with copper stills may experience a blue batch every once in a while. Basically, this is caused by the alcohol vapor corroding the copper metal. As the copper is literally eaten away, fragments transfer into the moonshine batch, which ultimately gives it a bluish tint.

What does moonshine do to your body?

Consuming Methanol In Moonshine

It will simply get people drunker. However, after it is metabolized, the methanol can have an extremely harmful effect in someone's body. 10 milliliters (ml) of methanol is all it takes to permanently damage the optic nerve and cause partial, if not complete, blindness.

How do you test alcohol for methanol?

To test for the presence of methanol, you can apply sodium dichromate to a sample of the solution. To do so, mix 8 mL of a sodium dichromate solution with 4 mL of sulfuric acid. Swirl gently to mix, then add 10 drops of the mixed solution to a test tube or other small container containing the alcohol.

Why does my moonshine smell bad?

Always dispose of the first bit of moonshine, in order to avoid contamination with methanol (which has a lower boiling point than ethanol). Contagion with methanol can be noticed by the bad smell and taste of your moonshine and needs to be avoided, since it is toxic.

Why does my moonshine have a yellow tint?

One possible reason why your moonshine has a yellow tint is because of a large concentration of minerals in the water. Assuming you are producing it with tap water, you'll naturally carry some of these minerals over to your shine.

What does real moonshine taste like?

Aside from the rubbing alcohol taste, you should taste the slight sweetness and hints of corn flavor. Some testers report that bottles of moonshine taste like good grappa and have a flavor strictly of their own. Others claim to discern vanilla notes in the good moonshine.

Is moonshine worse than vodka?

Vodka & Moonshine Compared

Based on their alcohol content, moonshine is stronger than vodka because it has higher alcohol-proof. Moonshine's alcohol level can be as high as 190 proof. On the contrary, vodka only has an average of 80 proof.

Does moonshine help sore throats?

Alcohol does have anesthetic effects, but there is no scientific evidence of the benefits that we attribute to various alcoholic concoctions in calming our sore throat.

Is moonshine stronger than Everclear?

Moonshine has a minimum alcohol content of 150 proof (75 percent ABV) and the maximum alcohol content is 190 proof (95 percent ABV). In this way it is very similar to Everclear and the same warnings should be considered in regard to its consumption.

Is store bought moonshine the same?

No real moonshiner accepts store-bought as the real thing.” Sarah LeRoy, of Piedmont Distillery in Madison, North Carolina, is familiar with the argument. “I've heard people say our products are not real moonshine,” she says. “But that's based on a technical definition of illegality.

What proof is actual moonshine?

Moonshine usually has an ABV of 40% but can sometimes be as high as 60%-80% ABV. Alcohol content can be converted to proof by multiplying it by two. So, 40% ABV is 80-proof. The distilling process is the key to a spirit's alcohol content.

How long is homemade moonshine good for?

In an airtight container, it should last 3 - 4 months in the back of your refrigerator. If you seal your jars properly in your mason jars, they can last up to three years. Properly sealed jars of moonshine do not need to be stored in the refrigerator until they are opened.

Can moonshine make you blind?

If you're drinking moonshine, yes. Although alcohol that's properly manufactured and regulated does not by itself cause blindness, people sometimes do go blind from drinking bootleg beverages. One common concern with moonshine is lead poisoning, which has been linked to blindness.

How do you store moonshine?

What's the Best Way to Store Moonshine? Store it in sealed glass bottles in a dark location away from direct sunlight. Glass keeps the flavor authentic while preventing spoilage. If you want to store the moonshine for a long time, refrigerate it.