I've always been curious as to how u made moonshine - like what is it made of and what those stills and whatnot do - I've seen that special on CMT too

 

Havent seen it either. I quit watching CMT since they became a wannabe MTV. Use to could turn it on and watch music videos all day long, now they hardly ever play them.

 

Here is an interesting link on home distillation.....

http://www.gin-vodka.com/legal.html

 

Brewing beer is much easier to do than distillation. Making whiskey involves much more elaborate equipment.

Isn't this about how long a thread gets on this subject before the moderator pinches it off?

 

My father told me many stories about finding stills in the 30's, shooting them up, blowing them up, only to have them back in operation in two weeks at another location. He said he has seen dead possums that fell in the mash. He told me about chasing one moonshiner in his '37 Ford police car and the shiner had his nine year old kid throwing bottles out the back trying to give them a flat. Good advise: If you don't know who made it - don't drink it.
Dono

 

Actually I think that was on CMT, I saw it too, it was cool
I liked when they showed a porch party and the blue grass band got together on the porch and started playin lol.

EDIT: opps I didnt see that about 1092348 people before me said it was on CMT. Still like the porch party though, wish I could go to one!

 

I drank some 'shine one time, when I was about 15, didn't know it was what it was...it was in a water bottle, in the fridge, so I took a big ole snort, then another, and about 3 more, if I recall, then I lost track of all my memories for about 3 days after, the next thing I remember was being really sick, and only able to drink kool-aid and gatorade for about a week...
I'd drink it again, but only about a swaller or two, no more than that!
or else this! ~>

 

I've been reading this post and wanted to clarify a few things. I've been a fellow home distiller/moonshiner for a few years and I love it. I did the home brew thing for beer a couple of times and then got tired of it. Too much work for only about 2 cases of beer.

First distilling at home without a license is illegal. Yes you can make wine and beer, but the gov won't let you make a drop of spirits without telling them. You can also try to apply for a fuel alcohol license which I think is easier to get. The main reason is taxes. The feds make a lot of money every time you walk into the liquor store to make a purchase. Just like with cigarettes.

The reason I do it is because of the cost. The last time I was in the liquor store I can buy a 750 ml bottle of Banker's Club vodka for about $5-$6. I can make my own hooch, same 80 proof for 75 cents, yes that $0.75 a bottle. Its by far 100 times better tasting than the Banker's club rot gut. I produce pure 96.5 % ethyl alcohol (193 proof) which I then dilute to ~80 proof for drinking purposes. The other advantage is that I can remove all the trace alcohols almost completely which are the cause for next day hangovers.

I got started by going to this site. www.homedistiller.org - a great site for anyone. It has everything you need to know and more.

 

I think people in the Bible Belt have alot to do with no legal booze sales on Sunday so you have to get it where you can.
I saw part of that program last week on the history channel and last nite it came on CMT but I didn't watch it. Too tird and went to sleep with the TV playing.

 

Guys I hunt with drink it, and some of them make it. They're of the opinion that it's legal to make 5 gal or 8 gal (none are sure of the quantity) as long as it's for your own use. However, I searched for BATFE regulations stating this, and found nothing. Several websites devoted to home brewing and distilling mentioned pending legislation which would legalize it, but it hasn't passed yet. That, to me, means it's illegal. I guess the only honorable thing to do is to inform my buddies that they're breaking the law - but first, I'll take a swig.

 

I have tried it a couple of times, burns the mouth and all mucous membranes involved. Tastes better with a little sweet koolaid. Can't say it's any better than any other booze but if they can brew it and make money why can't the little guys.

 

Making moonshine is a very simple process, it does not take any education at all, and anyone can do it. All you need is the mash, a heat source, a boiler, and a still.. Then something clean to catch the drips in.. However..... If you do this, the same people who went ape in Waco, will come knocking on your door... The BATF take very great exception to anyone daring to produce their own moonshine, without a license to do so. Every year, a small number of moonshiners manage to get killed by the untouchables.. This insignificant slaughter makes the moonshine production field completely unattractive to me.

 

Fact is, you CAN legally make moonshine. Heck, make all you want. For that matter, put in mason jars and sell it wherever you can. Oh, the catch, right... Well, you're going to have to get a food permit from your local health dept, a distributors license from the ATF, and you'll probably have to establish yourself as a chapter S corporation (get ready for THAT tax bill). I suppose that's it, as long as you're not going to charge customers serve any. Then go and sell your stuff and I hope you make a tidy profit. Oh, I forgot to mention the 25% of your net revenue (over and above your income taxes) that the government will take because you're making distilled alcohol instead of apple juice or wine You'll probably also develop a nice, tight relationship with your local ATF agent, seeing as he or she will be dropping in, unannounced, from time to time. Good luck.

Darn, I also forgot the multi-million dollar umbrella policy you'll definitely want for when a client of one of your customers accidently takes out the prom queen while snoozing through a red light.

 

Actually Wey, incorrect, the process used for making shine is illegal. As stated previously, spirits has to be stored in barrels or other types of containers. once you do thgis to shine...it is no longer shine..it is gin/whisky/vodka/tequila, but not shine. shine is the same alcohols that are utterly 'unrefined' in the legal sense of the word, even though as also stated previously, shine can be made so there is no hangover the next day, and can actaully be made to taste more pleasant than any whisky/rum/gin/ that you can purchase at the store legally.

in short words...when making spirits, with a license, and following the letter of the law, you cannot produce shine, the final product is not shine, but similiar to other spirits you can buy at the store.

 

Did you even read any of the previous posts? Obviously not, of you would have seen that selling or distributing was never an intention. I dont even plan on making any, just curiouse as to why it was illlegal. That's been answered.