Wednesday, September 14, 2016

Make Your Own Tipple With A Moonshine Recipe

By Betty Perry


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.

Moonshine goes by many names, depending on where in the world it is made and what the main ingredients are. However, no matter what you call it, the drink is essentially a very strong liquor with a high alcohol content and is distilled in small batches, usually illegally. Especially in the Appalachian region of the United States, farmers would often turn their harvests into drink because it was easier to transport over long distances and could earn them a handsome income.

The drink that comes from the Appalachian region is distilled from corn mash. This is a mixture of mashed corn, yeast, sugar and pure water. The corn is mainly responsible for the drink's flavor. The reason for adding yeast is that the mash has to ferment so that the sugar can be turned into alcohol and provide the kick you want to get from each fiery drop.

When the mash has fermented for around four days, it forms a beer-like liquid which you can strain and drink. If you choose to take it a step further, though, you place the fermented mash in a distilling pot and heat it. Vapors will rise into the condenser part of the pot and when they've cooled, they turn liquid again. This clear, distilled liquid is extremely high in alcohol.

While the moonshine made in the Appalachian region normally has a base of corn, you can also try other starches instead, including wheat, barley or rice. Potatoes are commonly used in countries such as Finland, Iceland and Ireland. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, people sometimes use cassava or plantains to make what they call lotoko.

Often distillers will use fruits instead of grains or starches. Sugar cane is a common ingredient in the countries of the Caribbean and Central America. In Eastern Europe, a drink made from plums is popular but you can also find versions using apricots, cherries, peaches or even walnuts, each with its own distinct flavor.

Where wine is made, grapes are abundant. For this reason, wine-producing regions are often home to home-distilled liquors with a grape base. These can be of very high quality, such as the 'witblits', which means 'white lightning', made in South Africa and sometimes sold in liquor stores in that country.

Before you rush out and buy a distilling pot, you first need to check the legality of producing alcoholic drinks in your area. In most countries it is highly illegal to make your own liquor and you can face hefty fines or even a prison sentence. However, it may be possible to get a distilling license in your country and make a drink that you can use for home consumption or for earning an extra income.




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