When moonshine is aged on oak that has been charred and toasted it is transformed from a harsh, burning distillate into a smooth often sweet whiskey. The amount of time required will depend on if your using chips, cubes or staves.

Also know, is whiskey and moonshine the same?

Absolutely nothing. Both whiskey and moonshine have the same production process – give or take a few variables. “Moonshine” came to be distinguished from whiskey for its illegal nature rather than it being a different type of alcohol – moonshine is just whiskey that hasn't been taxed.

Additionally, can I age my own whiskey? There are two ways to age whiskey at home. The most traditional method of DIY whiskey aging is to purchase or build a charred white oak barrel. To prep a barrel to be used for aging, make sure to first fill it with warm water and leave it sit until the wood swells enough to prevent leaking between the staves.

Similarly, it is asked, how do you age moonshine whiskey?

Burn the oak blanks with a blowpipe to make them slightly charred along the entire surface. Put 2-4 pieces into the jar, pour them over with moonshine and close it tightly with a lid. Let it age for 3-4 months in a cold dark place. A more prolonged aging (1 year or longer) enhances the taste of homemade whiskey.

Can you turn vodka into whiskey?

It is simply a grain based spirit that has been aged in wood without additional flavouring. So if you put grain based vodka in a barrel and age it, you can call it whisky if you want, but you couldn't if it was potato or other non grain based.

Why is moonshine clear and whiskey isn t?

Because it's illegal. And because it's cool. Moonshine, both then and now, is whiskey as it comes out of the still: no oak barrels, no caramel color, no aging. It's just straight liquor from fermented corn or wheat mash.

What proof is moonshine usually?

There isn't anything inherently dangerous about moonshine -- at least no more dangerous than any other alcoholic drink. When made properly, it is simply very strong alcohol with a very hard taste, or "kick," because it hasn't been aged. It is usually very potent, as high as 150 proof, which is about 75 percent alcohol.

Is all moonshine clear?

Since moonshine is clear a lot of people think that it is made though a different process than legal liquor whiskey. All whiskeys begin as a clear spirit- it isn't until whiskey is aged in wooden barrels that it takes on darker colors.

Is Moonshine a grain of alcohol?

Alcohol can actually be distilled from almost any kind of grain (the earliest American moonshiners used rye or barley), but virtually all moonshine made in the United States for the last 150 years has been made with corn. Moonshine made from grain, like corn or rye, is whisky.

Why is it called moonshine?

Why Is Moonshine Called Moonshine? Normally made from corn, moonshine is a whiskey that is un-aged. Usually containing very high content of alcohol, moonshine is whisky that is distilled illegally at home. The name moonshine originated from the way it was distilled during the night “Using the moon light”.

Can moonshine kill you?

One common concern with moonshine is lead poisoning, which has been linked to blindness. Today the most common cause of blindness from drinking is methanol. Methanol, otherwise known as methyl alcohol or wood alcohol, can damage the optic nerve and even kill you in high concentrations.

What percent alcohol is moonshine?

To power a car, moonshine—in this case, illicit homemade whiskey—must have an extremely high alcohol content, at minimum 150 proof (or 75 percent alcohol by volume), or 190 proof for best results. During the Prohibition, moonshine could be as weak as 63 proof and as strong as 190 proof.

What is the best store bought moonshine?

Here are the 10 best legal moonshine brands in the United States.
  1. Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey.
  2. George Dickel White Corn Whisky.
  3. Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash #1.
  4. Bill Elliott's Moonshine.
  5. Stillhouse Clear Corn Whiskey.
  6. Troy & Sons Platinum.
  7. Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon.
  8. Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine.

Does moonshine improve with age?

As one of the strongest alcoholic beverages, moonshine does not expire, though light, heat, and air can change the characteristics of an opened bottle over time. Moonshine does not get better with age, and, instead, is at its peak when you first purchase it (or make it).

How long is moonshine aged?

This is a tricky question to answer, as it can take anywhere from 2 weeks to several years. However, small batch distillers definitely have the advantage here. When you are making moonshine whiskey in smaller batches, excellent results only take a fraction of the time they would at larger commercial distilleries.

How long do you have to age whiskey?

two years

How do you make moonshine taste better?

If you'd like to whip up some of this tasty brew more quickly, check out the recipe below.
  1. ?1 qt. apple cider.
  2. 1 qt. apple juice.
  3. 1/3 cup sugar.
  4. 2/3 cup brown sugar.
  5. As many cinnamon sticks needed per mason jar.
  6. 1 1/2 cups 151 proof Everclear or moonshine for a 40 proof recipe, scale up for stronger proof.

How many times can a whiskey barrel be used?

Generally speaking, after curing and filling the barrel three times, the impact of the oak will diminish over time. As a general rule, the barrels can be reused the following number of times for each specified spirit: Wine- 1 Time. Whiskey / Bourbon – 4 Times.

How much are whiskey barrels?

Whiskey Barrel wholesale pricing for resellers is available east coast USA $70 per barrel delivered in full 53' truckload quantities of (288 barrels), these barrels are great for reselling in your area and are good solid barrels, they are great for decoration use or making whiskey barrel furniture.

How do you age a bottle of whiskey?

Home Aging After being removed from the cask and bottled, whisky keeps its flavor until the bottle is opened and or trapped oxygen slowly changes its contents. But it doesn't have to end there. Whisky can be aged at home by exposing it to more wood! This is easily done by inserting wood right into the bottle.

What does unaged whiskey taste like?

Drinkers of white whiskey can experience flavors ranging from pungent, harsh, and gamey to citrus, fruity, and vaguely floral. The drink often tastes strongly of the grain from which it is made. For example, unaged corn whiskey has been described as tasting heavily of sweet corn (Drew Long, D.C. Foodies).

Does whiskey go bad if unopened?

Whiskey is stored upright. In contrast to wine, however, whiskey in unopened bottles doesn't become better (or worse) during storage. That way it's possible to store whiskey for more than ten years. However, since tiny amounts of liquid evaporate through the cork, the filling level will decrease over time.