Any high-proof distilled spirits that are made illegally are referred to as moonshine. The phrase first used in the United States during the Prohibition era, when it was forbidden to produce, sell, or transport alcoholic beverages. To evade legal enforcement, moonshine was frequently made in remote locations and delivered by moonlight.
Usually, sugar, water, and yeast are fermented together to make moonshine, which is then distilled to add more alcohol to it. The resulting spirit may contain up to 190 proof of alcohol, which is much more than the majority of commercially available alcoholic beverages.
A still, which is a machine used to distill alcohol, is necessary for the production of moonshine. Alcohol can still be produced without a still, though. A fermentation lock, a mechanism that permits carbon dioxide to leave from a fermenting mixture while keeping oxygen from entering, is one technique. Making homemade wine and beer with this technique is very popular.
Another way to make alcohol without a still is to utilize a straightforward distillation device that may be created from objects found around the house. A saucepan, a lid, a copper coil, and a bucket of ice water make up this device. The copper coil is fastened to the pot’s cover, and the fermented mixture is added to it. The other end of the copper coil is then dipped into the bucket of ice water after the pot’s lid has been secured. Alcohol is heated in the pot, which causes it to evaporate and move through the copper coil before cooling and condensing back into a liquid.
Despite the fact that there are alternatives to using a still to make alcohol, it’s vital to remember that most nations forbid the creation of moonshine. If consumed in excessive numbers, moonshine’s high alcohol level can be dangerous, and if sufficient safety measures aren’t done, the production process itself can be dangerous.
In conclusion, moonshine is an illicitly made, highly-proof distilled liquor. Typically, it is created by fermenting a solution of sugar, water, and yeast; this solution is then distilled to add more alcohol. Although it is feasible to produce alcohol without a still, moonshine manufacturing is prohibited and can be hazardous if the right safety measures are not implemented.