Moonshine is a term for alcohol and this is normally associated with the illegal production of distilled spirit. When you mention moonshine you think of hill billies making their own alcohol up in the hills where there are no police. The picture of all this moonshine is fascinating and also fun. So lets have a look at how do we make alcohol?

Well initially we need a still for making the moonshine, this can probably be found in a brewing supplies shop. We also need to have a fermented base for use in the still. The fermented moonshine base will be either done from sugar and water and yeast or the fermented base can be from a wine which would have typically 10-18%ABV. Either will make great moonshine. When we have fermented the base we then feed this through a still and out come the moonshine. This is alcohol which will be typically being 60-85%. Very strong and great care is needed with this. At this strength it should not be drunk. The alcohol can then be diluted with water down to a more sensible level say 40% with water. This should then be fed through a charcoal column which will remove the off flavours.

Our moonshine can now have some flavouring added. Alternatively if it's made from wine it might not need flavouring. If you like vodka you can drink the moonshine neat or if you prefer to add tonic or fruit juices then this will produce a lighter drink and not so strong in taste. The choice of moonshine and additional drinks is endless. This could well be a special recipe which you have tried before and keep as your favourite moonshine cocktail.

If however you are using a flavoured wine and you love the spirit you have produced then you really must keep a recipe of flavour again made in exactly the same way. In some countries it's illegal to make production. It does vary from country to country about what's legal and how much you can produce without the need to hold licence. Most countries are not bothered about a little moonshine production as long as the product is not being sold. That's when clamp down on the illegalproducers.

I don't know where the term moonshine comes from but it's a great expression, it really conjures up a picture of a typical country bumpkin brewer.

We do encourage people who produce moonshine to drink sensibly as the alcohol can be really strong and we all know what effect it can have on our system - this is a warning not to be ignored it's strong alcohol so be careful and drink responsibly.