What type of alcohol is in moonshine?

What Type of Alcohol Is Moonshine? Most experts agree that moonshine is a homemade, unaged whiskey. This may be surprising due to the clear color, but the distilling process and ingredients used are clear signs that it is a whiskey.

What is the main alcohol in moonshine?

The traditional ingredients for moonshine are corn and sugar, and during fermentation, the sugar produces ethanol, which makes hooch or moonshine. During distillation, alcohol separates from the mash.

Is moonshine a vodka or 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.

Is moonshine ethyl alcohol?

The fermentation process used to make moonshine produces alcohol in two forms: methanol and ethanol. Ethanol is the drinkable version. Methanol, known as wood alcohol, is a byproduct that's toxic when large amounts end up in the finished product.

Is moonshine A Bourbon or whiskey?

Moonshine at its purest form, is whiskey, or bourbon distillate. It is un-aged, high in proof, and clear in color. During the Prohibition Era, if grains were unavailable or too expensive, moonshiners would use white sugar which still gave them that alcohol “kick” they were looking for, but with a sweeter taste to it.

What is moonshine? More than one definition....

Is moonshine basically vodka?

Physically speaking, there is no real difference between vodka and moonshine. Both are unaged neutral spirits, usually cut with water to increase volume and produce a more drinkable product. The difference is mostly geographic.

Is Everclear the same as moonshine?

Both Everclear and Moonshine are unaged spirits; however, Everclear is made from grain and Moonshine from corn. Everclear is a brand name of a neutral-tasting, very potent grain alcohol. Moonshine is a general term used to describe illegally produced corn whiskey.

Is moonshine worse 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.

What are the dangers of drinking moonshine?

Methanol Risks

A major risk of drinking moonshine is methanol blindness. Detecting methanol upon the first step is impossible, and consuming more of it will simply get the person drunker. However, it's eventually metabolized as its toxic metabolite, formic acid, in the body, which can have an extremely harmful effect.

What does moonshine do to your brain?

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.

Why is illegal alcohol called moonshine?

The term “moonshine” comes from the fact that illegal spirits were made under the light of the moon. In every part of America, early moonshiners worked their stills at night to avoid detection from authorities. The United States started taxing liquors and spirits shortly after the American Revolution.

What is the strongest alcohol?

Is moonshine a strong alcohol?

It is a very high proof liquor and its alcohol levels can range all the way from 40%-80%. Below, we explore some of moonshine's great qualities, as well as more about what affects the alcohol levels in each batch.

Is Everclear a vodka?

Some consider Everclear to be a very strong vodka; however, Everclear and vodka are very different. Vodka is much more diluted. For context, the typical vodka is roughly 40% alcohol by volume, which is 80 proof. Everclear, on the other hand, is 95% alcohol, which is 190 proof.

Is moonshine stronger than vodka?

They are both very high in alcohol percentage although historically Moonshine is an extremely powerful beverage. Vodka typically falls in the range of 80 to 100 Proof (40 to 50 percent alcohol by volume). Moonshine on the other hand also starts at 80 Proof on the low end but goes all the way up to 190 Proof at the top.

Is moonshine stronger than whiskey?

No, whiskey is not stronger than moonshine– single-barrel whiskey has similar ABV contents to moonshine. Although they have similar proof potency, the difference between whiskey and moonshine is maturity, taste, and distilling process.

Can you drink moonshine straight?

This historic drink is made with corn, barley, and wheat, creating a powerful spirit similar to whiskey. So, what's the best way to serve moonshine? While you're welcome to drink it straight, there are plenty of great mixers to add. In fact, people have been drinking mixed moonshine drinks since the 1920s.

What proof is real 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.

Why does my chest hurt after drinking moonshine?

You may experience rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest tightness or pain after heavy drinking. Organ stress: Drinking alcohol has temporary and long-lasting effects on your heart. Every time you drink, alcohol increases your heart rate and blood pressure, causing the organ to pump more blood throughout your body.

Can you drink 200 proof moonshine?

Remember, 200 proof moonshine has 100% alcohol content contained on it. Drinking it pure would seriously burn your throat. That being said, be careful with moonshines that have 150 plus final alcohol content. On average, 100 to 120 proof is pretty much the level people can comfortably drink their moonshine.

Which drink has 100% alcohol?

Another strong alcohol, Golden Grain is a 100% neutral spirit distilled from grain. Similar to Everclear, it's colourless and odourless. It is majorly used for creating homemade liqueurs and extracts.

What happens if you drink Everclear straight?

Regardless of a person's age, drinking Everclear can be very dangerous, even in small amounts. The strength of this liquor can quickly place a person's life in jeopardy. Everclear use can rapidly lead to alcohol poisoning and death.

Can you run a car off Everclear?

Of course you can. There was a drag racer sponsored by the corn industry that ran his alcohol burning dragster on ethanol rather than methanol. You might already have a car that can be tuned to run on 85 percent ethanol and it's not too tough to make those run on straight ethanol.

What proof is moonshine if it burns blue?

At 128 proof, it's clear, clean and exactly what moonshine should be. Purity and perfection are the name of the game when it comes to Ole Smoky Blue Flame Moonshine.

Is Ole Smoky Tennessee moonshine real moonshine?

Ole Smoky 153 is a clear moonshine handcrafted in Tennessee at 153 proof.