O'Donnell Moonshine -"Tough Nut" | 700ml | 25% ABV | 50 proof

Product Information

Increase the heat to high until the still produces drips. Keep it between water and alcohol’s boiling point (173°F and 212 °F) The first 5% of the liquid separated fuel alcohol made by your distilling process is the foreshots. The foreshots has the earliest-evaporating alcohols in your corn mash water. In the historic run, farmers used this to earn extra money because low-value corn crops could be made into high-value whisky. The U.S. government had a hand in this because of the how much sugar how highly they taxed alcohol. Ideally, the pH level should be between 5.8 to 6.0. You can bring the pH down by adding citric acid and bring it up by adding calcium carbonate. Distilling The distillate is collected in four stages: foreshots, heads, hearts, and tails. Foreshots, the first 5% of the liquid, contain potentially harmful alcohols like methanol and should be discarded. Heads make up the next 30% and contain volatile alcohols that can cause unpleasant effects like hangovers.

This yield translates to approximately 2-3 gallons of moonshine at a more palatable 40-50% ABV (80-100 proof) when the collected distillate is diluted. Using sugar can potentially increase the fermentable material, thereby boosting the yield, although it may also impact the flavor profile. Remember that you always want to reduce the amount of sediment in your corn mash water as much as possible. Running Your Still Moonshine is a distilled alcohol made from any grain or fruit, depending on what is accessible to you. The classic uses corn as the fermentable sugar. After fermentation, the fermented mash, is strained and distilled to separate the alcohol from the other substances. The distillate is then collected and stored properly. What are the ingredients and equipment needed to make moonshine? You need to make sure you still are always clean, even when you’re not using it. This means that even if you cleaned it after the last time you used it, you need to wash it again if you let it sit empty for a while.Moonshine is a distilled alcohol made from any grain or fruit, with corn being the classic choice to produce moonshine. The term “moonshine” originated from its illegal production, which was often done at night or under the moonlight. During the Prohibition era in the U.S., moonshine became one of the most profitable businesses in the country. What are the different types of moonshine mash? The basic process requires you to dissolve sugar into water, pasteurize it (optional), then add the yeast nutrient and yeast to the good stuff. The Hybrid

Just like the foreshots, the heads contain volatile alcohols that you should try to avoid consuming. While this will not blind you, it will give you one hell of a hangover which isn’t really pleasant. The tails make up about 35% of your production. They will also have a unique taste from the hearts. Congratulations! You’ve had a good run, finished the entire process, and now have your very own moonshine! Make sure you clean up your entire setup, let it thoroughly dry, and then store it in a cool, dry place. How Much Moonshine Does This Recipe Yield? Now that you are reaching the end of your product, you will get to the end of the ethanol and hit the last stage: the tails.

This mash is just a mix of the previous two. Many people use this because it is a more convenient and economical mash the achieves something pretty close to the classic taste of moonshine. How do you increase the proof of your shine? Simply add sugar (not really recommended) or use a thumper keg.

Here’s what you can expect for the amount of sugar added vs the potential alcohol in your mash. Up to you on how to proceed. Proper Storage The yield of moonshine from a 5-gallon recipe using 8.5 lbs. of flaked corn maize, 1.5 lbs. of crushed malted barley, bread yeast, and optional sugar can vary significantly due to several factors. These include the efficiency of fermentation, which depends on yeast quality, fermentable sugars, and environmental conditions, as well as the efficiency of the distillation process itself. They have a distinct “solvent” smell that comes from its alcohols, such as the acetone present in the heads. Again, collect the heads in a separate container and throw it out. Collecting Hearts So, purists opt for a corn whiskey mash, which will give you the classic, smooth, full-flavored moonshine.Use cheesecloth or auto-siphon to transfer the mash water into your still, including none of the solid material that may be leftover.