Corn Whiskey And Moonshine 2024 Best Moonshine co*cktail Drink Food Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between corn whiskey and moonshine? ›

Corn whiskey is an American liquor made principally from corn. Distinct from the stereotypical American moonshine, in which sugar is normally added to the mash, corn whiskey uses a traditional mash process, and is subject to the tax and identity laws for alcohol under federal law.

For a 5 gallon mash: (201)

7 lbs (3.2kg) cracked corn. 6-8 pieces/kernel is the proper crack. If using bird feed, make sure it is perishable, or in other words is free of preservatives.

You'll need to create a corn mash with a few basic ingredients (like crushed corn, malted barley, yeast, and sugar). Strain the liquid and distill it in a pot still. With a little time and effort, you'll soon be enjoying your own smooth, corn whiskey.

Weigh out your grains in a 2 to 1 ratio. For the 10 gallon batch, this will be 6 lbs of corn and 3 lbs of sweet feed.

Moonshine is any illegally made distilled alcohol. Classically it is corn liquor distilled from fermented corn and / or sugar. Distilling alcohol without state and federal permits is illegal in every single state in the US. Making moonshine is illegal because the government wishes to collect tax revenue.

For starters, moonshine has no specific proof, each batch can be different. It tends to be very strong compared to general commercial liquors. For example, most regular brands of Gin, Vodka, Rum, Whiskey, Tequila, etc. are 80 proof, or 40% alcohol.

Ferment the mash.

Your mash needs to be stored at room temperature for at least one or two weeks to ensure the final product comes out properly. We strongly recommend buying a hydrometer for this step, so you can start distilling at the best time.

If you're making a traditional corn-based shine, assume up to 2 weeks for fermentation depending on the condition. Lets say you make 200 gallons. If you're then batch processing in a smallish potstill, say a 60 gallon, you'll have to make 4 stripping runs. Each will take the better part of a day.

Whiskey is primarily made with yellow dent field corn (typically yellow dent No. 1 or No. 2, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's quality grade), grown commercially in huge quantities to feed cattle and make ethanol and plastic products.

Add 7 pounds of cane sugar, 7 pounds of cracked corn, and 5 gallons of 75 degree water to a 6.5 gallon plastic bucket fermenter. Once the ingredients have been added to the fermenter add the yeast starter and an airlock and let it ferment. It will take between 7-10 days for fermentation to finish.

How do you know when your mash is done for distilling? ›

The best way is to begin taking regular samples of your wort, and testing the specific gravity. Once the gravity stays the same for more than a day or two, it's done. (You don't need to take samples during the busy primary fermentation…just start doing it once things start slowing down.)

In this article we'll explain how a commercial distiller would determine how much alcohol to expect from a run. For the instant gratification seekers in the crowd, here's the short answer: A 1 gallon run will yield 3-6 cups of alcohol. A 5 gallon run will yield 1-2 gallons of alcohol.

It depends on what type of wash you have but as a general rule of thumb, it is best to distil within 2-3 days after fermentation is complete. The wash will keep for up to a month so long as the fermenter is airtight. The period can be extended if the wash is racked off into a clean airtight container.

Corn liquor is just that, corn that is fermented and distilled to make alcohol. It is also the traditional base for moonshine, but moonshine can be made from many different ingredients. If you watch the TV show 'Moonshiners', they've made their alcohol out of everything from apples to corn to hot peppers!

Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is distilled, aged and bottled at the most award-winning distillery in the world. Made from the finest corn, rye and barley malt, this whiskey ages in new oak barrels for years in century old warehouses until the peak of maturity.

Our Bourbon Process

Begin with a mix of corn (at least 51%), rye and malted barley. We like to call it our “mash bill.” This feeds into a 10,000-gallon cooker where we add some “setback” (a bit of old mash from our last distillation) for consistency and transform our mash into “sour mash.”

Experience the magic of moonshine at Ole Smoky Distillery's unique locations. Step back in time at “The Holler” and “The Barrelhouse” in Gatlinburg, TN, where rustic charm and traditional distilling methods will transport you to the Prohibition era. Taste the distinct corn whiskey flavors that made moonshine famous.