Anyone ever make moonshine?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 24,418
Likes: 3
From: San Francisco, Ca.
My next door neighbor was a moonshine runner from Canada.
He used to tell me stories of running shine, being chased by local police.
Drank it in highschool.
Must have been a good batch; it was good.
I even thought of making some.
It's still on the back burner.
He used to tell me stories of running shine, being chased by local police.
Drank it in highschool.
Must have been a good batch; it was good.
I even thought of making some.
It's still on the back burner.
FTE Legend
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 54,100
Likes: 2,445
From: NY and VA
I never made any but my father still tells stories of "bathtub gin". There is a guy down here in Virginia that makes some, and yes, hands it out it in mason jars. Last week a guy got picked up for making shine, don't know if it was the shine or the maryjane they found that really got him in trouble....
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 0
From: Southern Alberta
Had a friend who "obtained" a real, manufactured distiller. He was scared spitless that he was gonna get caught with it but it sure made some good stuff!
I also had a bona-fide millionare for a boss about 25 years ago. He threw a big Xmas bash for all the City officials his company dealt with one time, we were all there in suits and ties schmoozing all these municipal employees, but the Boss was no where to be found.
About 9:30 -10:00 he stumbles into the party, just gunned, in an old, stained golf shirt. His wife whispered to us that he had been making (and sampling, apparently) moonshine, just like he used to do in the "Old" days! LOL some impression on those City employees
I also had a bona-fide millionare for a boss about 25 years ago. He threw a big Xmas bash for all the City officials his company dealt with one time, we were all there in suits and ties schmoozing all these municipal employees, but the Boss was no where to be found.
About 9:30 -10:00 he stumbles into the party, just gunned, in an old, stained golf shirt. His wife whispered to us that he had been making (and sampling, apparently) moonshine, just like he used to do in the "Old" days! LOL some impression on those City employees
Last edited by Ringo Fonebone; Dec 26, 2005 at 10:12 AM.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
I made a lot of it years ago, small batches in the kitchen. I buillt a still from lab equipment and made wiskey from grain. It was fun, but does not taste as good as Jim Beam, or Old Crow...
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,542
Likes: 5
From: Louisiana
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Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 1
From: The Star-Club, Hamburg
In Iowa, you could only buy liquor at state controlled liquor stores until the late 70's/early 80's, and could'nt buy it in bars up until the 1960's. Buying it in the state stores meant having your name and rate of consumption put down on a publicly available record, and a lot of people did'nt care for that, so it led to a lot of "amateur" distillers and bootleggers bringing in liquor from out of state... both highly illegal. My grandad has told me stories of finding stills out in the woods, and pointing out "bootleg" joints around the countryside. I don't know if any in my family ever made any, and I certainly have'nt, but I've tasted some "local" product, and it's not too awful. But I think as long as Jim Beam is in business, they won't lose me as a customer.
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Katy, Texas
Aint ever had ne or know nething of makin it but my grandpa was a runner in louisiana, he told me one time he ran outta gas in his model A so he had to use a gallon oh shine, said it worked just fine, tells you what ur puttin in ur body haha. Prolly breate onto a match n shoot flames like a dragon JK wouldnt catch me tryin it though
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 588
Likes: 0
From: AZ.
Yep, I used to make it, and had some good batches too. I used corn and rye in the mash and would age the 'shine in charcoled white oak barrels for about a year. I served it in mixed drinks at a Xmas party and the only complaint was they thought I was spiking the drinks with too much whiskey. It was pretty strong stuff. I didn't have any gages so I would start cooking when the fumes from the mash would burn my nose and refill the still when it started to taste weak. I've been thinking about brewing up a batch for old times sake. A fellow tasted my stuff and offered his farm as a place to make it. He said he had the Youngstown OH. market if I could supply the 'shine. It was tempting but then it would be work and not fun to make. My home brew beer was about as potent as the whiskey compairing both to storebought brands. Ahh, "thems were the good old days." .... 
... And I still have my original liver too..
... And I still have my original liver too..
FTE Chapter Leader
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 42,772
Likes: 3,170
From: Fraziers Bottom, WV
I have been around it most of my adult life but looking back and knowing what I now know. I was around it quite a bit as a young person. I have never made but had my hands in the process many times. Most of the people I knew that made it only made a few gallons for personal use and only sold small amounts to close friends.
I have herd roomers of "freezing" but never knew anyone who tried it!
One old shine maker said it does not work!
I have herd roomers of "freezing" but never knew anyone who tried it!
One old shine maker said it does not work!
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 864
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From: Near the trees
In the early '70s,I was in the Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton and every weekend for 'bout two months, this old guy would drive up to the barracks and sell 'shine out of the back of his old station-wagon. He was the grandfather of one of the guys in my unit. I don't know how it was made, but damn sure tasted better than any I'd had before. 4 or 5 mason jars would have the whole barracks of about 30 guys feelin' real good the entire weekend!
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,509
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From: Northern Massachusetts
A kid down the street was always tinkering and inveting stuff, well trying to invent stuff ( claims he invented a perpetual motion machine) anyway he made a still down the woods on summer and had us youngins watch it for him, i guess we built the fire too high as when he came back he claimed we ruined it by having the fire too hot?