Awesome Moonshine Recipes to Try

Making moonshine is an art. Dating back to thousands of years ago, moonshine originated in the Appalachian Mountains as a secret for commoners to avoid high taxes or outright bans on alcoholic drinks (think the Prohibition era). It was a way for people to come together and create something special for their community, and to enjoy together.

Throughout the years, moonshine has become a staple in American tradition and history. Nowadays, getting your hands into this process is a way to experience history firsthand. The process of making moonshine is relatively simple, but takes patience as the fermentation period can last from 24 hours to a whole year. Whether you're a beginner or an expert though, it seems like some moonshine recipes just have you coming back for more.

Apple Pie Moonshine

Tis’ the season for apple pie moonshine. It isn't difficult to make liquor infusions that don't suck, especially when you use the following ingredients: one gallon apple juice, one gallon apple cider, two cups white sugar, two cups brown sugar, four cinnamon sticks, one pinch apple pie spice, one bottle of 190 proof alcohol, and one bottle of vodka.

The process is quite simple and can be done and ready to drink in a little over an hour. Combine the apple juice, apple cider, brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon sticks in a large pot and boil. Grab a lid to the pot and place it over the pot once it starts boiling, bringing it down to a simmer. This way, the ingredients will mesh into a syrup.

Once the ingredients have the consistency of a syrup and are cooled, add both bottles of alcohol into the pot and stir, and then remove the cinnamon sticks. Mix the ingredients thoroughly until it becomes a liquid. Your apple pie moonshine is now finished. To top it off, poor the moonshine into mason jars and place cinnamon sticks in it for a delightful presentation. Enjoy!

Sweet Feed Moonshine

As sweet as it sounds, this sweet feed moonshine recipe is definitely worth trying. You will need: an eight gallon fermenter, sweet feed, whiskey yeast, six pounds of sugar, and water. The first step to take is add the six pounds of sugar into the fermenter and fill half of it with boiling water. Mix it until the sugar is completely dissolved. Once it is cooled, add the yeast and bring it back up to a temperature of about 80 degrees. Cover the fermenter with a lid and let it sit for about five to six days.

This recipe is one of the oldest ones in tradition. Usually, moonshiners label it as 150-160 proof. When bringing it out of the fermenter, filter the liquid to ensure that no solids are mixed into the alcohol. It is often suggested that if this recipe is too strong, then delude it with water to your liking. If you want to take it a step even further, age it on some oak for a few months to get the full flavor and tasteful effect.

Corn Whiskey Moonshine

One of the most popular recipes to make, corn whiskey moonshine, can be made for your next gathering. Take a trip to your local market and grab 10 pounds of whole kernel corn, five gallons of water, and the smoothest whiskey you can find.

Put the corn in a burlap bag and wet it with warm water. Store the bag in a warm dark room and keep moist for about 10 days. When the kernels begin to sprout, then it is ready for the next step. Wash the corn, remove all roots and sprouts, and then place in the fermenter.

Grab a hard object and mash the corn until all the kernels are cracked. Add the five gallons of water and, when it cools, add yeast. Once it is thoroughly mixed, seal the fermenter. It will take about 7-10 days of sitting to be complete. When the fermentation is done, pour the concoction into a pillow case so it can filter out all the solids.

Lemon Cream Moonshine

This recipe is perfect for a day in the sun, picnic, or any summer gathering. The ingredients are: sugar, lemon juice, lemon, coffee creamer, moonshine neutral spirit, or vodka. Put a half cup of water and one cup of sugar into a pot and boil, so the sugar dissolves in the water. Add four tablespoons of lemon juice, two tablespoons of coffee creamer, and squeeze half a lemon into the mix. Let it simmer for three minutes and then bring the heat down to room temperature.

Pour this mixture into some mason jars and top it off with the moonshine of your choice. Remove the pulp from the lemon and put it into the freezer before drinking. Once it is chilled, bring it out and enjoy it on a nice hot summer day.

Good Whiskey Moonshine

If you’ve ever wanted to make whiskey at home or really add a kick to some basic whiskey cocktails everyone should know, now is your chance. The ingredients are malt, sugar, yeast, and water. The type of malt you can use is Blue Ribbon or Red Top. Either will work. You will notice that the malt is a liquid that comes in a can. What you need to do is add five gallons of warm water to every malt, dissolve five pounds of sugar, and one cake of yeast. Mix it all into a barrel of plastic, stainless steel, or copper, which you can most likely find in your household.

Cover the top of the barrel to avoid bugs getting into it, and keep it in a warm place for it to ferment. Once fermented, you can cook it off in your still until your whiskey is the smoothest it ever tasted. When whiskey is made like this, it has a clear color. If you wish to add color like the whiskey you see in stores, add dry fruit or wood to give it the brown coloring that you know and love.

Caramel Apple Pie Moonshine

A moonshine recipe never sounded so sweet. The addition of caramel vodka leaves this recipe with a delightfully sweet taste that will make you coming back for more. It is also the perfect recipe for beginners since it is so simple to make. You will need: three quarters of a cup of apple juice, three quarters of a cup of apple cider, half a tablespoon cinnamon, two ounces moonshine, and two ounces caramel vodka.

The rest is easy. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all of the ingredients and shake for about 15-20 seconds. This mixture and recipe is measured perfectly for two people, so pour into two glasses and serve. You can also adjust the measurements to your liking.

Dreamsicle Moonshine

It looks like the perfect malt-shake and refreshment, but it so much more delicious. This moonshine recipe is a perfect blend of white sugar, orange juice, and french vanilla coffee creamer. No need for distillers yeast and pot stills. You just need ingredients straight from your home.

The ingredients are as follows: one and a half gallons of orange juice, two and a half cups of sugar, one cup powdered french vanilla coffee creamer, one tablespoon vanilla extract, one cup vanilla vodka, and four cups of moonshine. Grab a pot and mix together orange juice and sugar, bring it to a boil. Next, stir in the coffee creamer until it is fully dissolved. Remove the heat and cool to room temperature. Once it is in a syrup-like state, add the vanilla extract, vodka, and moonshine. Let it sit, then pour into a mason jar and refrigerate. Let it cool and ferment for about two weeks. The longer it sits, the better it tastes.

Jalapeño Peach Moonshine

A variation of one of the best infused moonshine recipes for any occasion. The one ingredient that makes this recipe whole is the jalapeño syrup. For those who like a kick in their drinks, this drink is a must have. All you need is jalapeño syrup, six ounces peach moonshine, two ounces vodka, six ounces of sweet tea, and sliced peaches.

Find a large pitcher and and fill it with ice about half way. Toss in the jalapeño syrup, moonshine, vodka, and sweet tea. Stir until all of the ingredients are mixed evenly. Give it a small taste test to see if it needs anything added. Pour the drink into some glasses and top it off with peaches. It is the perfect drink to sit by the pool and enjoy on a nice warm day.

Raspberry Moonshine

This tart recipe can also be exchanged for blackberries depending on your preference. The ingredients call for 190 proof moonshine, nine ounces of fresh raspberries, two cups purified water, and one and a half cups of sugar. Pour the raspberries into a mason jar and mash with a wooden spoon. Add the moonshine, and then seal and shake. Place in a cool, dark place for about three weeks, and shake it every other day.

After the raspberry concoction is done sitting, boil water and add sugar until it dissolves, then let it cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, strain the raspberries out of the alcohol and return the alcohol to its jar. Add the simple syrup mixture and let it sit for another two weeks. If you wish to make it very strong, add less simple syrup.

Peach Cobbler Moonshine

Peach Cobbler moonshine recipes usually takes months to make, but with this homemade recipe, you can have your favorite refreshment within minutes. Make your own peach cobbler syrup or grab a ready-made one at the market. What you will need other than that is four peaches (peeled, pitted, and chopped) and 750 ml of Everclear moonshine.

Add the peaches to a large bowl and mash with either a fork or a wooden spoon. Add the moonshine and peach syrup into the bowl and stir. Until it is completely stirred, store the mix into eight ounce mason jars and put in a cool, dark place like a pantry. Leave it sitting and fermenting for about 24 hours. Some people even wait up to a year to unveil their drink because the longer you wait, the tastier it gets.