How Does Moonshine Taste?

In this brief guide, we’ll address the search query: “How does moonshine taste?” Also, we’ll explore what moonshine is, how it is made, what percentage of alcohol moonshine has, and what are the effects of drinking moonshine on a person’s body.

The flavor of moonshine will depend on what raw materials it has been made from, although there does seem to be a consensus regarding a strong alcoholic flavor.

This is because moonshine is notorious for having a high concentration of alcohol, and it often overpowers other components in the mixture.

Moonshine can be made with many ingredients that can have their sugar content converted into alcohol with the help of yeast. During the time of prohibition, moonshine was made from corn, apples, rye, and other grains.

Nowadays, moonshine can be made in a variety of flavors by preparing beverages with modest amounts of Everclear alcohol.

Moonshine that contains ethanol (in low concentrations) is safer to drink, while moonshine with high concentrations (more than 50% alcohol) of ethanol and that which is made with methanol are both hazardous to people.

What is moonshine?

Moonshine is an alcoholic beverage obtained from grains or fruits with a high sugar content, which is converted into alcohol by yeasts. It is regarded as whiskey, due to being obtained from grains that have been soaked and the resulting sugar water fermented, then distilled.

Other named moonshine receives include hooch, grog, booze, etc.

During the dry-law era of prohibition, moonshine was an illicit commodity. It was illegally brewed and distilled by bootleggers, and often at the center of organized crime.

In actuality, moonshine is an alternative to commercially available distilled spirits, as it can be made at home and prepared with an array of ingredients that provide flavoring, such as fruit juices combined with Everclear grain alcohol.

As it is an alcoholic beverage with a high concentration, it has an extended shelf life when compared to other types such as liqueurs and cocktail mixes.

While distilling alcohol at a large scale for commercial purposes is restricted to licensing and other permits, moonshine can be prepared artisanally and locally distributed.

How is moonshine made?

Moonshine is made by fermenting a mash, which is obtained by processing the raw materials and letting their sugars seep out into water whilst they soak.

From here, yeast is added, and it will convert the sugar in the water into alcohol through the process of fermentation. From here, the alcohol will be distilled to reduce the water concentration, and it can be bottled, unlike whiskey, which is stored in a cask for aging.

Aging conveys organoleptic qualities to the distilled spirit, such as coloring, richness, and flavor. Moonshine lacks these qualities, and is therefore considered of subpar quality next to aged whiskey.

In actuality, moonshine can be made by mixing grain alcohol with ingredients such as fruit extracts, juices, and pulps, and letting the mixture “age” (though there is no true aging, only a combination of the ingredients).

Moonshine of this modern nature can be found in small batches in liquor stores and is often sold as memorabilia, rather than as a beverage.

What percentage of alcohol does moonshine have?

Usually, moonshine has roughly 40% alcohol volume (80 proof units), though depending on the distillery, it can be as high as 80%:

Historically, some moonshine were (and are, to this day) regarded as having over 90% alcohol volume, though, of course, their consumption has noxious effects and is potentially lethal.

We advise our readers to eschew conventional moonshine that has been distilled to have high alcohol percentages, as it can have severe effects.

What are the effects of drinking moonshine on a person’s body?

The effects of drinking moonshine may vary. Batches that have reasonable alcohol concentrations may cause intoxication if consumed in copious amounts, and they can have severe effects in the short and long term.

Short-term effects include inebriation, a loss of physical capabilities (coordination), mood changes, a sense of euphoria and cheerfulness, impaired vision, slurred speech, and many other changes in a person’s behavior.

Inebriated people are strictly discouraged from driving, operating machinery, or otherwise engaging in activities that require sobriety.

Inebriation may be followed by a hangover, which is an after-effect of alcohol consumption characterized by exhaustion and dehydration.

Long-term effects of moonshine consumption may include liver damage, an increased risk of cancer, heart disease, chronic inflammation, alcohol addiction, and dysfunctionality at a social and emotional level.

It should be noted that moonshine of exceptionally poor quality, which translates as having a high alcohol volume, can cause intoxication, blindness, and even death by alcoholic congestion.

We urge our readers to moderate their alcohol intake and avoid regular consumption of beverages that aren’t certified or regulated by inspection agencies.

If our readers are experiencing difficulties limiting their alcohol intake, we urge them to seek professional help such as counseling and other forms of treatment, such as support groups, and if necessary, medication prescribed by a doctor.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we have addressed the search query: “How does moonshine taste?” Also, we’ve explored what moonshine is, how it is made, what percentage of alcohol moonshine has, and what are the effects of drinking moonshine on a person’s body.