About Moonshine
Moonshine is any distilled alcoholic spirit made illegally. While many grains can be used in the manufacture of moonshine, most often it is a whiskey made with corn. Moonshine or illegal alcohol is made in every country of the world. The running, or transport, of moonshine is credited to the beginning of what is known as stock car racing today. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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The making of moonshine gets its name from the fact that most stills were operated at night. In order to escape notice from the federal government revenuers, moonshine was distilled and distributed at night. Moonshine had its heyday in the United States during Prohibition when the manufacture, transport, sale, import and export of alcohol was illegal.
Significance
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During Prohibition and the Great Depression making moonshine was a profitable profession. Although mostly confined to the mountainous regions of Appalachia and the Ozarks, many city residents and gangsters added to their income by making mash or bathtub gin, both forms of moonshine.
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Geography
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The hill country of Appalachia has historically produced the most moonshine. A single still could produce approximately 1000 gallons a week running at full production. Moonshine operations are still a problem in many areas of North Carolina, Georgia and East Tennessee where the tradition of moonshining is handed down through the generations. For a complete look at the history of moonshine in the Appalachians, "Mountain Spirits: A Chronicle of Corn Whiskey from King James' Ulster Plantation to America's Appalachians and the Moonshine Life" and "More Mountain Spirits: The Continuing Chronicle of Moonshine Life and Corn Whiskey, Wines, Ciders & Beers in America's Appalachians' by Joseph Earl Dabney offers colorful histories and insight into the making and running of stills.
Features
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Moonshine is rarely aged in barrels, as are whiskey and bourbon. Most moonshine is clear and without color. This gives the product the nickname of "white lightening" as moonshine is sold almost immediately after distilling. Everclear is a legal version of moonshine and is sold in most liquor stores.
Size
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Moonshine is most often sold in pint or quart size canning jars, although any type of container can be used.
Prevention/Solution
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Congress has several times introduced bills to make home distillery of alcoholic spirits legal. While it is legal for the home brewer to make a specified amount of wine or beer, hard liquor is still illegal. Since taxes on alcohol are a large part of the price of a bottle of legal alcohol, moonshine with its lower price is still popular in some regions of the country.
Warning
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Moonshine requires a specific distilling process that must be followed. Often, toxins are released into the moonshine because the still owner takes shortcuts in the distilling or uses substandard equipment. The most common toxins are methanol and lead.
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