This is critical, especially if you are using copper stills that are showing some salt buildup already. After fermentation, the fermented mash, is strained and distilled to separate the alcohol from the other substances. of crushed malted barley, bread yeast, and optional sugar can vary significantly due to several factors. Heads make up the next 30% and contain volatile alcohols that can cause unpleasant effects like hangovers. This process does not create alcohol, because the yeast already made that for you during fermentation.

To get the best results, we recommend using a hydrometer to check the specific gravity at the start of the fermentation and when fermentation is done to ensure that your mixture has used up all the sugar. In the historic run, farmers used this to earn extra money because low-value corn crops could be made into high-value whisky. It’s important to note that distillation of alcohol for personal consumption is illegal in many jurisdictions without a proper license.It will also feel slippery between your fingers because of the water, carbohydrates, and proteins in it. Note that the ingredients we mentioned above will differ, depending on the recipe you follow if you are making something other than the classic corn-barley-yeast moonshine recipe.

So, purists opt for a corn whiskey mash, which will give you the classic, smooth, full-flavored moonshine. Similarly, the choice of bread yeast could result in variations in both yield and flavor, compared to specialized distillers’ yeast. The equipment needed includes a mashpot, fermentation bucket, heat source with temperature control, thermometer, long spoon, weighing scale, separate containers, hydrometer, PH Meter (optional), siphon, cheesecloth, citric acid, moonshine still, cleaning products, column packing, and mason jars.Moonshine can be made from different types of mash, including corn liquor, whiskey mash, sugar shine, and a hybrid of the two. It replaces some corn with table sugar, which allows you to double your yield using the same amount of corn.

Avoid letting your moonshine drip into a plastic container, because this can lace your drink with BPA and may cause other issues. Foreshots, the first 5% of the liquid, contain potentially harmful alcohols like methanol and should be discarded.We’ve partnered up to offer you 20% off with code HBACADEMY on the best online distilling education online.

The term moonshine came from its illegality, which forced people to make it at night or under the light (or shine) of the moon. This is most popular for beginners and those looking to really experiment with the flavors of their shine because it doesn’t require any mash and you still get the same abv. If it gets too cold, boiling temperature, the fermentation can stop because the yeast will go dormant. Now, you just need to distill your mash water and separate all the alcohol content into a purified form.

While you can always use some other alcohol like Everclear from your drinks, where’s the fun in that? 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. This was also the time when speakeasies became popular (complete with passwords, secret doors, and more!