- The main element defining moonshine is that it is made in an unlicensed, private still. The name is derived from the fact that shiners (people who make moonshine) typically make and transport their illicit product at night. The idea is therefore international, with a rich variety of traditions in home distilling.
- In the United States, moonshine is typically corn liquor made in cheap, homemade stills of a relatively simple design. Besides being homemade and illegal, what further separates American moonshine from other corn liquors like bourbon or Tennessee whiskey, is that it is not aged and rarely (if ever) has other types of grain added to the mix. The reason for not aging it is simple: it's illegal and oak barrels are expensive. Who wants to have barrels of illicit alcohol laying around just waiting to get caught with it? Moonshine is also typically stored in improvised containers, such as mason jars, rather than nice bottles.
- Another thing that separates moonshine from other forms of liquor is that it is sometimes dangers to drink. Home distilling is prone to the accidental introduction of toxic materials into the liquor, especially if a car radiator is used as a condenser. Drinking poison is never a concern with commercial liquor. A person buying moonshine needs to really trust the shiner making it.
