Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, or Tennessee white whiskey is a high-proof distilled spirit, generally produced illicitly.
As some of you might remember, my mothers side of the family is from the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee. So I do have family roots in what helped begin NASCAR®. In fact, my grandfather ran moonshine back in the day. I also still have family members back in those mountains that can provide me with shiny mason jars of “White Lightning”. Y’all gotta love family.
I always have a jar in my kitchen cabinet for when I just need a small “nip” as my mamaw would say. (the store bought kind of course)
Now for those of you who don’t have “family connections”, you can buy the tamed down and lighter strength commercial “Moonshine” at your local liquor store. You can also buy it on the internet and have it shipped right to your house. Tennessee now allows Moonshine distilleries to operate legally. So check out what they are producing. I personally love Ole Smoky for my recipes. Y’all should check them out. AMAZING product.
So once you have acquired your main ingredient, you will want to make this lovely, smooth and sweet sipping brew. Let me say one thing though. BE CAREFUL. This is so smooth that you won’t realize that it is sneaking up on you.
Ingredients:
- 1 gallon apple juice
- 1 gallon apple cider
- 8 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 quart moonshine
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
To get started, you need a large boiling pot. Add into this pot the apple juice, apple cider, the white and brown sugar, the whole fresh cinnamon sticks and cloves. Bring these contents to a boil, then remove the pot from the stove and let it cool down to room temperature.
Once at room temperature, gradually stir in the moonshine and vanilla.
Store it in sterile Mason jars, place one cinnamon stick in each jar, and then store them in a cool dark dry place.
It is ready to drink now, but after a couple of weeks your Apple Pie Moonshine will taste even better. This batch will make about 8+ quarts. Don’t forget to taste test every now and then…..LOL.
Is it one gallon of apple juice AND 1 gallon cider? or is it OR?
yes, it is both a gallon of cider and juice
What proof is the quart of moonshine that you add?
I made this a couple of weeks ago (minus the vanilla and cloves). Although it was VERY tasty mine was cloudy and I had to shake it before I drank it. How do I fix this?
Your cloudy moonshine can be the result of cooking to high. Temp should be around 173-185. At 200-220 the wash boils everything out of the pot. It will be OK to drink.
What is the expected shelf life of the apple pie moonshine?
What is the shelf life of white lighting ?
Just curious how the lids seal if it is room temp. Or do they not need to?
If kept refrigerated I have kept it up to 60 days. But it rately lasts that long
What proof alcohol should I use ?
190 proof or the highest you can find.
Do I put it in the refrigerator after its poured into quarts or into a cool dry place like my basement or does it matter?
Steph, you can do either. I like to keep one in refrigerator to drink chilled, the rest I keep in the pantry on a dark shelf.
Where do you find the moonshine.
Ever heard of making apple pie moonshine with a sugar sub, ie stevia or splenda? Just wondering if it would work ok.
I heard of someone use 1/2 sugar and 1/2 stevia… They said it was great but youd have to try it to see for yourself. I dont know why, if the conversion from sugar to fake sugar is correct, it should be any differt in taste….
Why do you mix the cider and juice? Will just two gallons of cider be just as good? Just wondering why use a gal. Of each? Thanks!
Why would I take 1 qt moonshine and dilute it down to 8 quarts?????
Just where do I get moonshine in Colorado?????????
When you store this on a dark shelf do you have to seal the lids like in canning.
No
Do you use Light, or Dark, Brown Sugar in your recipe?
I use light brown sugar
I’ll have to try it out. Sounds like a plan.
I need a good Blackberry moonshine using everclear. I’d like to make 1–1 1/2 Gal.