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56-411: Moonshine is high-proof liquor , traditionally made or distributed illegally . The name was derived from a tradition of distilling the alcohol at night to avoid detection. In the first decades of the 21st century, commercial distilleries have adopted the term for its outlaw cachet and have begun producing their own legal "moonshine", including many novelty flavored varieties, that are said to continue

112-577: A batch distillation basis (as opposed to a Coffey or column stills, which operate on a continuous basis). Traditionally constructed from copper , pot stills are made in a range of shapes and sizes depending on quantity and style of spirit. Geographic variations in still design exist, with certain kinds popular in parts of Appalachia , a region known for moonshine distilling. Spirits distilled in pots commonly have 40% ABV, and top out between 60 and 80% after multiple distillations. Poorly produced moonshine can be contaminated, mainly from materials used in

168-490: A thermal immersion circulator , like a sous vide stick is ideal because it comes with a temperature controller. The liquid is kept heated at about 50 °C (122 °F) which slowly evaporates the ethanol to 40% ABV that condense on the inner walls of the outer vessel. The condensation that accumulates in the bottom of the vessel can then be diverted directly down through a filter containing activated carbon . The final product has approximately twice as much alcohol content as

224-427: A 5-foot-long (1.5 m) copper tube wound in spiral form. The tube first goes up to act as a simple column, and then down to cool the product. Cookware usually consists of a 30-litre (6.6 imp gal; 7.9 US gal) plastic wine bucket. The heat source is typically a thermal immersion circulator (commonly runs at 1200 W), like a sous vide stick because it is hard to find 300 W immersion heaters , and it

280-413: A much lower temperature than water , simple distillation can separate ethanol from water by applying heat to the mixture. Historically, a copper vessel was used for this purpose, since copper removes undesirable sulfur -based compounds from the alcohol. However, many modern stills are made of stainless steel pipes with copper linings to prevent erosion of the entire vessel and lower copper levels in

336-557: A purer distillate is desired, a reflux still is the most common solution. Reflux stills incorporate a fractionating column , commonly created by filling copper vessels with glass beads to maximize available surface area . As alcohol boils, condenses, and reboils through the column, the effective number of distillations greatly increases. Vodka and gin and other neutral grain spirits are distilled by this method, then diluted to concentrations appropriate for human consumption. Alcoholic products from home distilleries are common throughout

392-477: A registered distillery is illegal in many countries. Currently in the United States, there are four states that allow the production of moonshine for personal consumption ( Alaska , Arizona , Massachusetts , and Missouri ). Additionally, North Dakota law permits the production of moonshine for personal consumption up to the federally legal amount—which is zero gallons; entailing that production of any amount

448-704: A result of excise laws and became meaningful in the United States only after a tax passed after the Revolutionary War outlawing non-registered stills with the Tariff of 1791 , or the Excise Whiskey Tax of 1791. This tax led to the Whiskey Rebellion lasting between 1791 and 1794, where the tax went unpaid by the rebels and was met with violent protest. This tax lasted until 1802, when it was repealed. Another tax

504-457: A significant source in some areas. Radiators used as condensers may contain lead at the plumbing joints, and their use has resulted in blindness or lead poisoning from tainted liquor. This was a deadly hazard during the Prohibition -era United States. Consumption of lead-tainted moonshine is a serious risk factor for saturnine gout , a very painful but treatable medical condition that damages

560-454: A space and joined to the letter P as a unit name (e.g. 13 °P). The term proof dates back to 16th century England, when spirits were taxed at different rates depending on their alcohol content. Similar terminology and methodology spread to other nations as spirit distillation , and taxation , became common. In England, spirits were originally tested with a basic "burn-or-no-burn" test, in which an alcohol-containing liquid that would ignite

616-399: A still. To cut costs, stainless steel vessels are often replaced with plastic stills , vessels made from polypropylene that can withstand relatively high heat. The preferred heat source for plastic stills or spiral stills is sous vide sticks; these control temperature, time, and circulation, and are therefore preferred over immersion heaters . Multiple units can be used to increase

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672-483: A study of farmers in Cocke County, Tennessee , observes: "One could transport much more value in corn if it was first converted to whiskey. One horse could haul ten times more value on its back in whiskey than in corn." Moonshiners such as Maggie Bailey of Harlan County, Kentucky , Amos Owens of Rutherford County, North Carolina , and Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton of Maggie Valley, North Carolina , became legendary. Once

728-409: A tainted distillate burns with a yellow flame. Practitioners of this simple test also held that if a radiator coil had been used as a condenser, then there would be lead in the distillate, which would give a reddish flame. This led to the mnemonic , "Lead burns red and makes you dead," or simply, "Red means dead." Manufacturing of spirits through distilling, fractional crystallization , etc. outside

784-444: Is commonly known as a pot still , consisting of a single heated chamber and a vessel to collect purified alcohol. A pot still incorporates only one condensation , whereas other types of distillation equipment have multiple stages which result in higher purification of the more volatile component (alcohol). Pot still distillation gives an incomplete separation , but this can be desirable for the flavor of some distilled beverages . If

840-419: Is disassembled from an electric water boiler . A plastic still is a device for distillation specially adapted for separating ethanol and water . Plastic stills are common because they are cheap and easy to manufacture. The principle is that a smaller amount of liquid is placed in an open smaller vessel inside a larger one that is closed. A cheap 100 W immersion heater is typically used as heat source, but

896-557: Is illegal. Popular offerings for the Maya deity and folk saint Maximón include money, tobacco, and moonshine. Moonshine is by tradition usually a clear, unaged whiskey, once made with barley mash in Scotland and Ireland or maize corn mash in the United States, though plain sugar became just as common in illicit liquor during the last century. The word originated in the British Isles as

952-474: Is legally mandated to be specified as an ABV percentage. For bottled spirits over 100 ml (3.5 imp fl oz; 3.4 US fl oz) containing no solids, actual alcohol content is allowed to vary by up to 0.15% of the ABV stated on the label. By contrast, bottled spirits which are less than 100 ml (as well as those which otherwise contain solids) may vary by up to 0.25%. Proof (the term degrees proof

1008-494: Is not used), defined as being twice the percentage of alcohol by volume, may be optionally stated in conjunction with the ABV. For example, whisky may be labeled as 50% ABV and as 100 proof; 86-proof whisky contains 43% ABV. The most typical bottling proof for spirits in the United States is 80 US proof, and there is special legal recognition of 100-proof spirits in the bottled in bond category defined since 1897. The Code of Federal Regulations requires that liquor labels state

1064-483: Is now mostly linguistic and historical. Today, liquor is sold in most locations with labels that state its percentage alcohol by volume. The European Union (EU) follows recommendations of the International Organization of Legal Metrology (OIML). OIML's International Recommendation No. 22 (1973) provides standards for measuring alcohol strength by volume and by mass . A preference for one method over

1120-523: Is regulated by law in many countries. In 1972, Canada phased out the use of "proof"; in 1973, the European Union followed suit; and the United Kingdom, where the concept originated, started using ABV instead in 1980. The United States Code mandates the use of ABV, but permits proof to be used also. The degree symbol (°) is sometimes used to indicate alcohol proof, either alone (e.g. 10°) or after

1176-468: Is risky to disassemble the immersion heater from an electric water boiler because it may cause electrical injury . The spiral burner is popular because, despite its simple construction and low manufacturing cost, it can provide 95% ABV . A pot still is a type of distillation apparatus or still used to distill flavored liquors such as whisky or cognac , but not rectified spirit because they are poor at separating congeners . Pot stills operate on

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1232-409: Is used during and after the fermentation process to determine the potential alcohol percentage of the moonshine, whereas an alcoholmeter is used after the product has been distilled to determine the volume percent or proof. A common folk test for the quality of moonshine was to pour a small quantity of it into a spoon and set it on fire. The theory was that a safe distillate burns with a blue flame, but

1288-461: Is very close to the fraction 4 ⁄ 7 ≈ 0.5714 . This led to the approximation that 100-proof spirit has an ABV of 4 ⁄ 7 . From this, it follows that to convert the ABV expressed as a percentage to degrees proof, it is only necessary to multiply the ABV by 7 ⁄ 4 . Thus pure 100% alcohol will have 100×( 7 ⁄ 4 ) = 175 proof, and a spirit containing 40% ABV will have 40×( 7 ⁄ 4 ) = 70 proof. The proof system in

1344-461: The New Hampshire state legislature has tried repeatedly to pass laws allowing unlicensed home distillation of small batches. In 2023, Ohio introduced legislation to do the same, with other states likely to follow. Alcohol proof Alcohol proof (usually termed simply "proof" in relation to a beverage) is a measure of the content of ethanol (alcohol) in an alcoholic beverage . The term

1400-854: The "aftershot," and are also typically discarded. Alcohol concentrations at higher strengths (the GHS identifies concentrations above 24% ABV as dangerous) are flammable and therefore dangerous to handle. This is especially true during the distilling process, when vaporized alcohol may accumulate in the air to dangerous concentrations if adequate ventilation is not provided. Contaminated moonshine can occur if proper materials and techniques are not used. The prolonged consumption of impure moonshine may cause renal disease , primarily from increased lead content. Analysis of Georgia moonshine samples revealed potentially toxic levels of copper, zinc, lead, and arsenic. A review of twelve arsenic poisoning cases found contaminated moonshine responsible for about half, suggesting it may be

1456-455: The "foreshot" – the first 50–150 millilitres (1.8–5.3 imp fl oz; 1.7–5.1 US fl oz) of alcohol that drip from the condenser. Because methanol vaporizes at a lower temperature than ethanol, it is commonly believed that the foreshot contains most of the methanol, if any, from the mash. However, research shows that methanol is present until the very end of the distillation run. Despite this, distillers will usually collect

1512-464: The United States was established around 1848 and was based on percent alcohol rather than specific gravity. Fifty percent alcohol by volume was defined as 100 proof. Note that this is different from 50% volume fraction (expressed as a percentage); the latter does not take into account change in volume on mixing, whereas the former does. To make 50% ABV from pure alcohol, one would take 50 parts of alcohol and dilute to 100 parts of solution with water, all

1568-503: The amendment was repealed in 1933, laws focus on evasion of taxation on any type of spirits or intoxicating liquors. Applicable laws were historically enforced by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the US Department of Justice , but are now usually handled by state agencies. Enforcement agents were once known colloquially as "revenuers". The earliest known instance of

1624-497: The component parts have boiling points that differ by less than 25 °C (45 °F) from each other under a pressure of one atmosphere . A column still, also called a continuous still, patent still or Coffey still, is a variety of still consisting of two columns. A column still can achieve a vapor alcohol content of 95% ABV . A spiral still is a type of column still with a simple slow air-cooled distillation apparatus, commonly used for bootlegging. Column and cooler consist of

1680-467: The construction of the still . Stills employing automotive radiators as condensers are particularly dangerous; in some cases, glycol produced from antifreeze can be a problem. The head that comes immediately after the foreshot (the initial product of the still) typically contains small amounts of other undesirable compounds, such as acetone and various aldehydes . Fusel alcohols are other undesirable byproducts of fermentation that are contained in

1736-429: The distillation of gin under glass and PTFE , and even at reduced pressures, to facilitate a fresher product. This is irrelevant to alcohol quality because the process starts with triple distilled grain alcohol, and the distillation is used solely to harvest botanical flavors such as limonene and other terpene like compounds. The ethyl alcohol is relatively unchanged. The simplest standard distillation apparatus

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1792-469: The drink, jacking , the process of freezing fermented cider and then removing the ice, increasing the alcohol content. Starting with the fermented juice, with an alcohol content of less than ten percent, the concentrated result can contain 25–40% alcohol by volume (ABV). In some countries, moonshine stills are illegal to sell, import, and own without permission. However, enthusiasts explain on internet forums how to obtain equipment and assemble it into

1848-410: The final product resulting in a smoother, better-tasting drink. All copper stills will require repairs about every eight years due to the precipitation of copper-sulfur compounds . The beverage industry was the first to implement a modern distillation apparatus and led the way in developing equipment standards which are now widely accepted in the chemical industry. There is also an increasing usage of

1904-487: The foreshots until the temperature of the still reaches 80 °C (176 °F). Outbreaks of methanol poisoning have occurred from methanol accidentally produced in moonshine production or deliberately used to strengthen it. In modern times, reducing methanol with the absorption of a molecular sieve is a practical method for production. The Lucas test in alcohols is a test to differentiate between primary, secondary, and tertiary alcohols . It can be used to detect

1960-487: The formation of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing ( NASCAR ). Several former "runners," such as Junior Johnson , became noted drivers in the sport. Some varieties of maize corn grown in the United States were once prized for their use in moonshine production. One such variety used in moonshine, Jimmy Red corn, a "blood-red, flint-hard 'dent' corn with a rich and oily germ," almost became extinct when

2016-445: The grain size of gunpowder and the time it sat in the spirit impact the dissolution of potassium nitrate and therefore what would be defined as 100 proof. However, the gunpowder method is significantly less variable than the burn-or-no-burn method, and 100 proof defined by it is traditionally defined as 57.15% ABV. By the end of the 17th century, England had introduced tests based on specific gravity for defining proof. However, it

2072-425: The kidneys and joints. The incidence of impure moonshine has been documented to significantly increase the risk of renal disease among those who regularly consume it, primarily from increased lead content. Contamination is still possible by unscrupulous distillers using cheap methanol to increase the apparent strength of the product. Moonshine can be made both more palatable and perhaps less dangerous by discarding

2128-507: The label. In Prohibition-era United States, moonshine distillation was done at night to deter discovery. While moonshiners were present in urban and rural areas around the United States after the Civil War , moonshine production concentrated in Appalachia because the limited road network made it easy to evade revenue officers and because it was difficult and expensive to transport corn crops. As

2184-405: The last grower died in 2000. Two ears of Jimmy Red were passed on to "seed saver" Ted Chewning, who saved the variety from extinction and began to produce it on a wider scale. There have been modern-day attempts on the state level to legalize home distillation of alcohol, similar to how some states have been treating cannabis , despite there being federal laws prohibiting the practice. For example,

2240-436: The levels of fusel alcohols . A quick estimate of the alcoholic strength, or proof, of the distillate (the ratio of alcohol to water) is often achieved by shaking a clear container of the distillate. Large bubbles with a short duration indicate a higher alcohol content, while smaller bubbles that disappear more slowly indicate lower alcohol content. A more reliable method is to use an alcoholmeter or hydrometer . A hydrometer

2296-462: The liquor was distilled, drivers called "runners" or "bootleggers" smuggled moonshine liquor across the region in cars specially modified for speed and load-carrying capacity. The cars were ordinary on the outside but modified with souped-up engines, extra interior room, and heavy-duty shock absorbers to support the weight of the illicit alcohol. After Prohibition ended, the out-of-work drivers kept their skills sharp through organized races, which led to

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2352-486: The other is not stated in the document, but if alcohol strength by volume is used, it must be expressed as a percentage of total volume, and the water/alcohol mixture must have a temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) when measurement is done. The document does not address alcohol proof or the labeling of bottles. On 1 January 1980, Britain adopted the ABV system of measurement prescribed by the European Union, of which it

2408-527: The percentage of ABV. The regulation permits, but does not require, a statement of the proof, provided that it is printed close to the ABV number. In practice, proof levels continue to be stated on nearly all spirits labels in the United States, and are more commonly used than ABV when describing spirits in journalism and informal settings. Beverages were labelled by alcohol proof in Canada until 1972, then replaced by ABV. Still Since ethanol boils at

2464-444: The starting liquid and can be distilled several times if stronger distillate is desired. The method is slow, and is not suitable for large-scale production. Fractional distillation is the separation of a mixture into its component parts, or fractions . Chemical compounds are separated by heating them to a temperature at which one or more fractions of the mixture will vaporize . It uses distillation to fractionate . Generally

2520-582: The term "moonshine" being used to refer to illicit alcohol dates to the 1785 edition of Grose's Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue , which was published in England. Prior to that, "moonshine" referred to anything "illusory" or to literally the light of the moon. The U.S. Government considers the word a "fanciful term" and does not regulate its use on the labels of commercial products, as such, legal moonshines may be any type of spirit, which must be indicated elsewhere on

2576-417: The tradition by using a similar method and/or locale of production. In 2013, moonshine accounted for about one-third of global alcohol consumption. Different languages and countries have their own terms for moonshine (see Moonshine by country ). The ethanol may be concentrated in fermented beverages by means of freezing. For example, the name applejack derives from the traditional method of producing

2632-406: The waste product (which in large distilleries is processed to become animal feed). Copper is the preferred material for stills because it yields an overall better-tasting spirit. The taste is improved by the chemical reaction between the copper in the still and the sulfur compounds created by the yeast during fermentation. These unwanted and flavor-changing sulfur compounds are chemically removed from

2688-481: The wattage. Also, sous vide sticks, commonly sold in 1200 W and generally temperature regulated up to 90 °C (194 °F) (ethanol boils at 78 °C (172 °F)), will evaporate the ethanol faster than an immersion heater , commonly sold in 300 W. Electrical injury may occur if immersion heaters are modified, as if a 35 °C (95 °F) thermostat is removed from an aquarium heater (because doing so may break its waterproofing ), or if an immersion heater

2744-418: The while mixing the solution. To make 50% alcohol by volume fraction, one would take 50 parts alcohol and 50 parts water, measured separately, and then mix them together. The resulting volume will not be 100 parts but between 96 and 97 parts, since the smaller water molecules can take up some of the space between the larger alcohol molecules (see volume change ). The use of proof as a measure of alcohol content

2800-501: The world but are sometimes in violation of local statutes. The product of illegal stills in the United States is commonly referred to as moonshine and in Ireland , poitín . However, poitín, although made illegal in 1661, has been legal for export in Ireland since 1997. Note that the term moonshine itself is often misused as many believe it to be a specific kind of high- proof alcohol that

2856-640: Was introduced with the Revenue Act of 1861 and Revenue Act of 1862 that heavily taxed the production of spirits leading to an increase in illegal distilling and in turn, increased action from revenue agents that enforced the taxes. Illegal distilling accelerated during the Prohibition era (1920–1933), which mandated a total ban on alcohol production under the Eighteenth Amendment of the Constitution . Since

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2912-533: Was not until 1816 that a legal standard based on specific density was defined in England. 100 proof was defined as a spirit with 12 ⁄ 13 the specific gravity of pure water at the same temperature. From the 19th century until 1 January 1980, the UK officially measured alcohol content by proof spirit, defined as spirit with a gravity of 12 ⁄ 13 that of water, or 923 kg/m (1,556 lb/cu yd), and equivalent to 57.15% ABV. The value 57.15%

2968-477: Was originally used in England and from 1816 was equal to about 1.75 times the percentage of alcohol by volume (ABV). The United Kingdom today uses ABV instead of proof. In the United States , alcohol proof is defined as twice the percentage of ABV. The definition of proof in terms of ABV varies from country to country. The measurement of alcohol content and the statement of content on bottles of alcoholic beverages

3024-523: Was said to be "above proof", and one which would not was said to be "under proof". A liquid just alcoholic enough to maintain combustion was defined as 100 proof and was the basis for taxation. Because the flash point of alcohol is highly dependent on temperature, 100 proof defined this way ranges from 20% at 36 °C (97 °F) to 96% at 13 °C (55 °F) alcohol by weight (ABW) ; at 24 °C (75 °F) 100 proof would be 50% AB W . Another early method for testing liquor's alcohol content

3080-417: Was the "gunpowder method". Gunpowder was soaked in a spirit, and if the gunpowder could still burn, the spirit was rated above proof. This test relies on the fact that potassium nitrate (a chemical in gunpowder) is significantly more soluble in water than in alcohol. While less influenced by temperature than the simpler burn-or-no-burn test, gunpowder tests also lacked true reproducibility. Factors including

3136-557: Was then a member. The OIML recommendation for ABV used by the EU states the alcohol by volume in a mixture containing alcohol as a percentage of the total volume of the mixture at a temperature of 293.15 K [20.00 °C; 68.00 °F]. It replaced the Sikes hydrometer method of measuring the proof of spirits, which had been used in Britain for over 160 years. In the United States, alcohol content

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