lundi 5 septembre 2016

Get A Moonshine Recipe And Know What Is In Your Drink

By Betty Perry


Nowadays, many people want to move away from anything mass produced and opt instead for something they have made themselves. After all, if you know exactly how much effort went into the production process, you'll appreciate the end result much more. Beer, cheese, bread and preserves are just some of the things that you can make at home but if you like a challenge and doing something unusual, you may want to invest in a pot distiller and a good moonshine recipe.

Moonshine is normally associated with Appalachian farmers who would clandestinely turn at least part of their harvest into a much more valuable product. The liquor that they distilled could fetch a higher price than the produce from the land and they could also transport much more of it at a time, earning them a handsome bit of extra income. You will find different versions of strong, home-distilled liquors all over the world.

The first step in the production process is to create a mash. This is often a mixture of corn, water, sugar and yeast. The mash has to ferment, with the corn mainly included for flavor while the sugar creates the alcohol.

When the mash has fermented for around four days, it forms a beer-like liquid which you can strain and drink. If you choose to take it a step further, though, you place the fermented mash in a distilling pot and heat it. Vapors will rise into the condenser part of the pot and when they've cooled, they turn liquid again. This clear, distilled liquid is extremely high in alcohol.

You don't have to use corn to make your own liquor. Wheat and barley are good alternatives for a drink with a more Scottish flavor. In Asia, rice is a popular ingredient to use while in parts of Scandinavia and Ireland, potatoes are the starch of choice. Congolese distillers often opt for plantains or cassavas, both of which are staple foods in the DRC, and call the end product lotoko. In Russia, some distillers use beets.

Often distillers will use fruits instead of grains or starches. Sugar cane is a common ingredient in the countries of the Caribbean and Central America. In Eastern Europe, a drink made from plums is popular but you can also find versions using apricots, cherries, peaches or even walnuts, each with its own distinct flavor.

Many versions of moonshine are made with grapes. You'll find these especially in areas where wine production is common too and grapes are plentiful. In South Africa, a high-quality grape-based firewater with a name that translates as 'white lightning' can even be bought legally in liquor stores and at farmer's markets.

By nature, moonshine is actually an illegally distilled drink. In most countries distilling your own liquor can land you a stiff fine or some prison time. However, in many areas you may distill your own liquor for personal use if you have a special license to do so. Therefore, check the local legislation before you invest in an expensive distilling pot.




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