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, 1911 or before]] Moonshine (sometimes known as Poitín , mooney, moonshizzle, mountain dew, moon, branch or creek water, hooch, squeezings, rot gut, gut rot, corn liquor, Portuguese grape juice, white lightning, and many others) is a common slang term for home-distilled Alcohol , or whiskey for the hills, especially in places where this production is illegal. The name is often assumed to be derived from the fact that moonshine producers and smugglers would often work at night (i.e. under the light of the moon) to avoid arrest for producing illegal Liquor . The 1811 edition of the Dictionary Of The Vulgar Tongue , originally by Francis Grose , defines "moonshine" as follows: "A matter or mouthful of moonshine; a trifle, nothing. The white brandy smuggled on the coasts of Kent and Sussex, and the gin in the north of Yorkshire, are also called moonshine." It has been suggested that the term might derive from smugglers' explaining away their boxes and barrels as "mere moonshine" (that is, nothing). ([http://listserv.linguistlist.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0110E&L=ADS-L&P=R555&I=-3 Jonathon Green, American Dialect Society Mailing List, 31 Oct 2001 ) Moonshine is made by Yeast Fermenting a sugar source to produce Ethanol and then separating the alcohol from the fermenting mixture (the Mash ) through Distill ation using a Still . Because of its illegal nature in many states and simple production, moonshine is usually not aged in barrels as are other, similarly-produced liquors such as Whisky or Bourbon , and it sometimes contains impurities, off flavors, and toxins such as Methanol that the more sophisticated distillation methods of commercial distilleries are able to control. In popular culture, moonshine is usually presented as being extremely strong and in North America is commonly associated with the Southern United States , and Appalachia . PRODUCT SAFETY Sloppily-produced moonshine can be contaminated with Toxin s, mainly from materials used in construction of the still. Despite the well-known hazards, it is claimed that stills constructed using car Radiator s for a condenser are still used. The Lead used in soldering these radiators often contaminates the moonshine, and in some cases, Glycol products from Antifreeze used in the radiator can appear as well. Both are poisonous and potentially deadly. Methanol does not normally occur naturally in distilled spirits. {Link without Title} . Any alcohol over 100 proof (i.e. 50%) is very flammable and easily ignitable. This is especially true during the distilling process in which oxidized vaporized alcohol can accumulate in the air if there is not enough ventilation. Mixtures Occasionally moonshine is deliberately mixed with industrial alcohol-containing products, including Methanol and other substances to produce Denatured Alcohol . Results are toxic, with methanol easily capable of causing blindness and death. In the past moonshine has been mixed with beading oil or Lye , to fool people into believing that it is of a higher proof. This is due to the fact that when shaken, bubbles form on the surface relative to the alcoholic strength (known as "the bead"). Larger bubbles lasting shorter indicate higher proof. Tests A common " Folk " quality test for moonshine was to pour a small quantity of it into a metal spoon and set it alight, the theory being that safe distillate burns with a blue flame, but tainted distillate burns with a yellow flame. Practitioners of this simple test sometimes held that if a radiator coil had been used as a condenser there would be lead in the alcohol, which would give a reddish flame. This led to the phrase: "Lead burns red and makes you dead." Of course, these tests should not be relied upon to test the purity of moonshine or any other distilled alcohol, especially since the flame color test, while able to catch fuel oils, does not catch methanol. MOONSHINE WORLDWIDE Armenia The Armenian name for moonshine is aragh (the word comes from Arabic araq عرق, meaning "sweat" or "juice"); however, the Russian word '''samogon''' is used more often, as aragh is synonymous with regular Vodka . The production of samogon is widespread in Armenia. White Mulberry , Grape , Cornelian Cherry and Apricot moonshine are especially popular, particularly in the countryside. Australia Home-distillation of alcohol is illegal in Australia, but the law is rarely enforced. The sale of stills up to 5 litre capacity and other distilling equipment, including yeasts, flavourings and other ingredients specific to distillation, is legal. Brewery supply stores have permission to sell larger stills, typically up to 25 L. Brazil In Brazil there is a long tradition of home distilling, especially in the rural areas, which means that the knowledge to produce liquors is relatively widespread. Artisanal liquors (specially Cachaça and Wine made in small farms) tend to be of good quality and are prized by collectors. One form that can be qualified as moonshine is known as "Maria Louca" ("Crazy Mary"). It's basically an Aguardente made in jails by inmates. It can be made from many cereals, ranging from corn to rice, using improvised equipment. Bulgaria The national spirit in Bulgaria is called " Rakia " from Turkish "rakı". It is usually made from grapes, but other fruits are used as well, such as plum, raspberry or peach. Rakia is the most popular drink in Bulgaria along with wine. Like wine, it is very often produced by villagers themselves, either in a community owned (public) still, or in more simple devices at home. Home made Rakia is considered to be of better quality and "safer" than Rakia made in factories, since there were, especially during the 1990s, a lot of counterfeit products in the stores. By tradition, distilling a certain amount of Rakia for home use is free of taxes. In connection with Bulgaria joining the European Union in 2007, there were government decisions to raise taxes on home made spirits. This led to a series of protest meetings in late 2006 and early 2007. With respect to local traditions and the usually poor performance of state institutions in Bulgaria, there is little risk that the new taxes will be paid in fact. In Bulgarian tradition, drinking ракия always goes hand in hand with eating little dishes (then called mese [мезе ), usually some kind of salad, e.g. Shopska Salad . Canada The common name for home-made alcohol is Moonshine. It's illegal to produce for personal use but now available commercially in Prince Edward Island from a small distillery in Rollo Bay . Early versions were probably made from Potato skins due to the large amount of potatoes produced on PEI but these days most people making it at home use Molasses as a sugar source. Colombia In Colombia moonshine is called "Tapetusa" or "Chirinchi" and is of illegal manufacture. However it is quite popular in some regions and has been traditional for hundreds of years. The cost of tapetusa is a fraction of the heavily taxed legal alcoholic beverages. The Aborigines used to make their own version of alcoholic drink called " Chicha " even before the advent of Europeans. Chicha is usually made of corn, corn is chewed and spat in an earthen container that was then buried for some time (weeks). The latter is a special kind of alcoholic beverage, and similar to the made by Chilean Indians (Mapuches), but in Chile a fully legal version of Chicha, made of the apple ferment, sells in September. Additionally, in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, the Wayuu tribe produces the "Chirrinche" which is both for local consume and trade with tourists. Chirrinche is regarded to be a very strong spirit and often produces a severe hangover. Costa Rica In Costa Rica, moonshine is referred to as "guaro." It is made from sugarcane. In urban areas, "guaro" can also refer to a regulated alcoholic beverage bought over-the-counter that is much less potent than the moonshine and often flavored. Czech Republic Czech traditionally made from distilling Plum s and is known as ' Slivovice '. Traditionally produced in many garages and cellars, nowadays it is created by specialist distillers using plums provided by individuals to prevent dangerously high methanol content. It is found especially in the region of Moravia and is a popular part of celebrations including wedding parties. Denmark In Denmark, moonshine is referred to as hjemmebrændt (home burnt). Ecuador In Ecuador , moonshine is often distilled from Sugarcane , and referred to as Puro, spanish for pure. Finland Finnish moonshine is home-made Vodka , usually made from any fermentable Carbohydrates , most commonly grain, sugar or Potato . The most common name is pontikka. It is said that this name came about due to the poor quality French Wine from Pontacq . Other names are '''kotipolttoinen''' (home burnt), '''ponu''' (an abbreviation of pontikka), '''ponantsa''' (another abbreviation of pontikka, and a joke of Bonanza ), '''tuliliemi''' (fire sauce), '''moscha''' (the most common Finland-Swedish term, which in fact is "Swenglish" for moonshine. The term was first used by emigrants who had returned home from America. The word moscha is nowadays integrated in the Swedish dialect in southern Ostrobotnia on the mid-west coast of Finland.), '''korpiroju''' (wildwood junk) or '''korpikuusen kyyneleet''' (tears of wildwood spruce) as stills often are located in remote and inaccessible places. Unlicensed moonshining is illegal in Finland, but it is often considered a challenge or Hobby . In practice prosecution follows only if the authorities become aware that the product is being sold. Most Finnish moonshiners use simple Pot Still s and Flash Distillation . Some have constructed sophisticated Reflux or rock stills for Fractional Distillation , containing plate columns or Packed Columns , with reflux filling components of Raschig Ring s, crushed glass, nuts, glass pellets or steel wool. The city of Kitee is the most famous Finnish "moonshine-city". A legitimate brand of vodka called "Kiteen kirkas" ("Kitee's Clear") is available commercially. France Eau de vie, '''gnôle''', '''goutte''', '''lambic''', '''fine''', or more generically the simple name of the fruit they were distilled from -- '''poire''' ('' and Normandy , '''mirabelle''', '''prune''' and '''kirsch''' are mainly produced in the East ( Alsace , Lorraine , Bourgogne , Champagne ), and of course every wine-producing region has, to some extent, a tradition of making brandy, the most famous being Cognac and Armagnac . Unlicensed moonshining was tolerated in France up to the late 50's : having an ancestor who fought in Napoleon's armies automatically gave you the right to distillate a given quantity of alcohol (the equivalent of 10 liters of pure alcohol a year) for your own consumption. Since 1959 that right can no longer be transferred to the descendants, therefore only a few '' Bouilleurs De Cru '' are still exercising their rights nowadays. Owning a registered fruit orchard or a vineyard still gives you a right to have your production distillated, but it is no longer free, and you have to hire a licensed distillator to do so; the excise amounts to 7.50 € per litre of pure alcohol for the first 10 litres, and 14.50 € per litre above that limit. Georgia In Georgia the traditional grape moonshine is called Chacha . Recently, with modernized distilling and aging technology, chacha is promoted as "Georgian brandy" or "Georgian vodka", and is compared to Grappa . Germany In Germany , moonshine is called ''Schwarzgebrannter''. The term is very often translated "black burned" since the German word ''schwarz'' literally means black, but in this case schwarz means darkness. Therefore, a better translation is "liquor burned during darkness". Generally, home-distillation of alcohol is illegal in Germany, but there are exceptions. Ownership and use of very small stills up to 0.5 litre capacity is legal. Such small stills are only used by hobbyist and the products of these hobbyists are not available on the black market. The ownership of larger stills must be reported to fiscal authorities, otherwise it is illegal, and the use of these stills always requires a licence. The German market for moonshine is limited, in part because legal alcohol is relatively inexpensive, compared to some other Western Europe an countries and in part because controls are generally considered to be quite effective. Both facts are negative for prospective profits of commercial moonshiners. German home-distilled alcohol is in very most cases a type of traditional German Schnapps , often a type of fruit brandy. There are many legal and often very small distilleries in Germany. Most of these small distilleries are located in Southern Germany , belong to farms and are, in fact, home-distilleries. These producers of distilled beverages are called ''Abfindungs-Brennerei'' and the operation of these small distilleries requires a special type of licence for home-distilleries. The number of such licences is strictly limited and it is therefore very difficult to get it since in most cases all available licences are already in use. An Abfindungs-Brennerei is only allowed to produce a limited amount of pure alcohol per year and the operation of the still is limited to some months of the year. There are tight controls of these limitations. The products of an Abfindungs-Brennerei, although in many cases home-distilled, are not considered to be Schwarzgebrannter since they are taxed and legal. Guatemala The broadest term for Guatemala n moonshine is cusha. It is popular in large regions of the countryside, where it is made by fermenting fruits, particularly for mayan festivities. If forbidden, practically nobody is prosecuting its manufacture. Cusha is also a valuable for shamans, who consume it during cleansing ceremonies and spit their "patients" with it. Hungary Hungarian moonshine is called házipálinka (''pálinka'' is a Hungarian spirit, ''házi'' means 'from home') which refers to the fact that it has been made at home. It is mostly made in rural areas where the ingredients, which are usually fruits, are widely available. Its production is considered illegal if distilled at home as the distillation process constitutes a tax fraud if not carried out at a licensed distillery. Iceland Icelandic moonshine (Landi) is largely made by hobbyists as a protest against the high liquor taxes levied by the government. Due to the lack of natural cover and harsh weather conditions, most "moonshining" activity occurs indoors in a controlled environment. Although potatoes are the most common constituent of Icelandic moonshine, any carbohydrate can be used, including stale bread. Landi is often drunk by teenagers who can't buy liquor at the stores. India Locally produced moonshine is known in India as Desi , Desi Daroo , Tharra , Dheno , Mohua , Narangi , Kaju and Santra (also known in different parts of the country under other names). It is made by fermenting the mash of sugar cane pulp in large spherical containers made from waterproof Ceramic (terra cota) up to near 100% alcohol. However, it is a dangerous drink, mainly because of the risk of alcohol or copper formaldehyde poisoning. In South India, moonshine is any alcoholic drink that is prepared outside the distilleries, out of the tight liquor-control. Toddy and Arrack are not synonyms or Indian names for moonshine liquor. Toddy is an alcoholic beverage made from the sap of palm trees, and arrack refers to strong spirits made traditionally from fermented fruit juices, and the sap of the palm tree. In the Indian state of Goa , a locally produced Cashew flavoured drink Feni is very popular among the locals and the tourists as well. Ireland Grain or potato based moonshine made illegally in Ireland , is called Poitín (IPA , anglicized as ''poteen'' or ''potcheen'') or formerly ''potheen'' (IPA but in Ireland ). The term is a diminutive of the word ''pota'' 'a pot'. Italy Clandestine distillation of alcohol was common in the once poor eastern parts of Italy, but with tighter control over the supply of distillation equipment its popularity has slumped. Nowadays, the supply of production equipment larger than three litres is controlled, and anything smaller must bear a sign stating that moonshine production is illegal. {Link without Title} On the island of Sardinia , one can still find local varieties of Grappa which are dubbed ' Filuferru ', the local pronunciation for 'iron-thread'; this peculiar name comes from the fact that grappa stills were buried to hide them from authorities with iron-thread tied to them for later retrieval. Laos In Laos (Lao People's Democratic Republic) the home distillation of spirits is technically illegal, although this law is rarely enforced. 'Lao Lao' is the name given to home-produced liquor, and it is drunk openly especially in rural areas, with many small villages operating a communal still. Usually brewed from rice, it varies from well produced, smooth tasting liquor to very rough spirit with a lot of impurities. Malawi In Malawi moonshine is commonly brewed and distilled by women in townships and villages. Known as "katchasu" in Chichewa, various sources of starch may be used including potatoes, sugar cane or maize. Although technically illegal, there is no social stigma attached to moderate consumption. Republic of Macedonia The Republic Of Macedonia is a country where moonshine is not only legal, but is also the liquor of choice. Typically, the moonshine is made out of grapes, which are the leftovers from the production of wine. Macedonian moonshine is highly popular because it is commonly used for medicinal purposes. This process usually uses diluted moonshine with burned sugar, and the liquor is then boiled and consumed while still hot. Mexico In some parts of Mexico , particularly in the Copper Canyon region, Lechuguilla is fermented to make a clear moonshine called, fittingly, lechuguilla. It is consumed openly, especially by the residents at the bottom of the canyon. Myanmar Myanmar has several forms of moonshine. Although it is illegal, moonshine has majority share of the alcohol market especially in rural areas of the country. In the country side, moonshine shares the alcohol market with what some call Palm Wine . Netherlands In the Netherlands home distillation is illegal. New Zealand New Zealand is one of the few Western countries where home distillation is legal. In New Zealand, stills and instruction in their use are sold openly. Nigeria In Nigeria , home based brewing is illegal. Moonshine is variously called 'ogogoro', 'kainkain', 'abua first eleven', 'agbagba', 'akpeteshi', 'aka mere', 'push me, I push you', 'crazy man in the bottle', or ' Sapele water' depending on locality. Norway Due to the very high taxation of alcohol, moonshine production primarily from potatoes and sugar continues to be a popular, albeit illegal, activity in various parts of the country. This is especially true for the Mid- and North-Norwegian regions, and otherwise it is mostly prominent in the rural regions. Norwegian moonshine is called "Hjemmebrent" or "Heimebrent" (which translates into English as "home-burnt") and sometimes also "Heimkok" (meaning "home-cooked") or "Heimert" (slang) in Norwegian, and the mash is called "Sats". In the county of Telemark mash is also referred to as "Bæs". In the old days on Finnskogen they called the mash Skogens vin ("The Wine of the Forest"), a name mostly used by the poorer people without access to distilling equipment. When talking to foreigners, some Norwegians use the term "Something local" about their moonshine. In Norway , moonshine is commonly enjoyed mixed with Coffee , and sometimes a spoon of sugar. This drink is known as Karsk , and has a special tie to the mid-Norwegian regions while it is also enjoyed elsewhere. A common joke is that the traditional mixture was made by brewing the strongest, blackest coffee possible, then putting a 5 Øre piece (a copper coin of size and color of a pre-decimalization English penny, no longer in circulation) in a cup. Add coffee to the cup until the coin can no longer be seen, then add Hjemmebrent, straight from the still and around 180 proof, until the coin can again be seen. Then drink. (If you cover the coin with a dark fluid like coffee it won't show again in a cup, no matter how much colorless fluid you mix into it. That is because the amount of pigment between the coin and the surface remains the same. If you use a glass instead you will eventually see the coin again from the side. You can try this yourself with coffee and water.) While Brewing is permitted in Norway, distillation is not (although possession of equipment for distilling is legal). The enforcement of this law is spotty at best. Norway is also known for making one of the purest and strongest kinds of moonshine (96%). Drinking this - even in a light drink - is not advised because it usually features an unpleasant taste. Peru Peru is one of the few countries where moonshine is completely legal. The production and sale of homemade alcoholic drinks is entirely unregulated and their consumption is common in daily meals. Pisco is one of the most common alcoholic drinks in Peru , although different types of Chicha , with their generally low alcohol content, are the most popular alcoholic drinks in the country, with regional variations common in all areas. Even small children enjoy chicha as commonly as children in other countries may drink juice. This is especially true of the non-alcoholic chicha morada (violet chicha), loved by both children and adults. The low alcohol content rarely causes drunkenness or Dependence , even in small children. Chicha was also consumed by the ancient Peruvians, millennia before the Inca s' empire; it was apparently consumed by Chavin De Huantar, one of the first cultures on Peru and on the whole planet. Poland The Polish name for moonshine is bimber; although the word '''samogon''' (from Russian) is also used. Far less common is the word '''księżycówka''', which literally means moonshine. The tradition of producing moonshine might be traced back to the Middle Ages when tavern-owners used to manufacture vodka for local sales mainly from various kinds of Grain and Fruit s. Later on, other means were adopted, particularly those based on fermentation of Yeast with the help of Sugar . Some of the moonshine is also made from distilling Plum s and is known under the name of '''śliwowica''' (similar to the Czech word ' Slivovice '). The plum moonshine made in area of Łącko (Southern Poland) called '''Łącka Śliwowica''' gained nation-wide fame, with tourists travelling long distances to buy one or two bottles of this strong liquor. Because of the Climate and density of the population, most of the activity occurred indoors. In Poland, the simplest recipe for producing moonshine by fermentation of Yeast with the use of 1 Kilogram of Sugar , '''4''' Liter s of water, and '''10''' dag (= 100 G ) of Yeast is jokingly abbreviated as ''' 1410 ''' - the year of the Battle Of Grunwald , most famous victory of Kingdom Of Poland , the Grand Duchy Of Lithuania and their allies over the Knights of the Teutonic Order in the Middle Ages . Under Polish law it is illegal to manufacture moonshine, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court’s ruling of 30 November 2004 . Selling home-made alcohol is also a tax offence as there is an Excise imposed on sale of alcohol, and there is no provision for those manufacturing alcohol illegally to pay this duty even should they want to. In reality the law is not consistently enforced, the one example of turning blind eye being the authorities tolerating large-scale manufacture and open sale to the public of the above mentioned Śliwowica Łącka moonshine. Puerto Rico The common Puerto Rican term for moonshine rum is pitorro, which comes from the Andalusian term "pintorro", given to a white wine (or rum, near the rum-producing sugar cane fields of Málaga ) of inferior quality which still has some grape (in the case of the wine) or molasses (in the case of rum) coloring in it. Other terms are '''pitrinche''', '''cañita''' (based on the thin copper tubing of the Alembic in which it is produced), and '''lágrima de mangle''' (" Mangrove 's tears" given the tendency of artisan distillers to refine their product near coastal mangroves, as to be able to hide it from police). '''Cañita''' is a common term so popular that at least two legal brands of rum have used the name, including the current brand, "Cañita Cura'o". ''Pitorro'' is an integral part of Puerto Rican culture, and musical odes to it or its production (such as the Plena ''"Los Contrabandistas"'', popularized by Puerto Rican singer Daniel Santos ) are part of local folklore. ''Pitorro'' is usually much stronger than commercial rum: at times its alcohol content surpasses the common 80- or 90-proof (40% or 45% alcohol per volume) mark; some raids have led to confiscation of rum that is up to 80% alcohol per volume (165 proof). Recipes abound, but common practices include "curing" the distilled product by burying jugs of ''pitorro'' in the ground, as well as placing Grape s, Prune s, or Breadfruit seeds inside of them. Puerto Rico is famous worldwide for its production of (legal) rum, and since it is a major revenue-generating operation, the Puerto Rican police force, as well as agents from the local ''Departamento de Hacienda'' (Treasury Department) tend to pursue moonshine producers fervently, particularly around the Christmas season. A town famous (or infamous, depending on who describes it) for its ''pitorro'' production is Añasco, Puerto Rico . Romania In Romania , Plum Brandy is called ţuică (tzuika) or palincă ( Palinka ), depending on the alcohol content and the region in which it is produced. It is prepared by many people in rural areas, using traditional methods, both for private consumption and for sale. Although this is illegal, and the drink is technically moonshine, the government tolerates these practices, and does not consider this Bootlegging , due to the nature of the Drink . Most ţuică is sold in markets, fairs and even roadside, bottled in unlabeled PET bottles. Some communities have acquired production licences and legally produce and bottle ţuică. Russia The . ''Samogon'' of one distillation only is called pervach (ru: первач), literally translated as "the first" - it is well known for its impressive smell. The production of samogon is widespread in Russia. It is legal only for personal use, selling is prohibited. Samogon often has a strong repulsive odor but, for lack of any other spirit, it is still very popular. It was common during the Soviet era, when products were scarce and the supply unstable. Scotland Illicitly produced whisky from Scotland is called peatreek. The term refers to the aroma (or ''reek'') infused in the drink by drying the malted barley over a Peat fire. Slovakia Probably the most common moonshine in Slovakia is Slivovica , sometimes called ''plum brandy'' in English. It is notorious for its strong but enjoyable smell delivered by Plums from which it is distilled. The typical amount of alcohol is around 50% (it may vary between 40-60%). The home made slivovica is highly esteemed. It is considered a finer quality spirit compared to the industrial products which are usually not that strong (around 40%). Nowadays this difference in quality is the primary reason for its production, rather than just the economic issues. A bottle of a good home made slivovica can be a precious gift, since it cannot be bought. The only way to obtain it is by having parents or friends in rural areas who make it. Slivovica is sometimes used also as a popular medicine to cure the early stages of cold and other minor aches. Although illegal, the small home productions seem to be tolerated by the government. Several other fruits are used to produce similar home made spirits, namely Pear s - hruškovica and Cherries - '''čerešňovica'''. Another traditional Slovak moonshine is called borovička, distilled from Juniper Berries or Pine . Its flavor resembles Gin but it is quite strong and can reach 50-70% alcohol. Slovenia In Slovenia , especially in the western part, moonshine is distilled from fermented grapes, which were left from wine production, and sugar if necessary. It is called ''tropinovec'' (tropine, means squeezed half-dried grapes, in the west of the country) or ''Šnops''. Because it has around 60%-70% of alcohol is often mixed with boiled water to make it lighter ( vol. 50%). Tropinovec is rarely drunk in large quantities. It is often mixed with fruits (cherries, pears, etc.) to cover the strong odor and taste, or herbs ( Anise , Wolf's Bane , etc.) for alternative medical treatment. Home distilling is legal in Slovenia; owners of stills are obliged to register and pay excise duties (approximately 15 USD for 40-100 L stills and 30 USD for stills with capacity over 100 l). There were 20,539 registered home distillers in 2005, down from over 28,000 in 2000. South Africa In is a low-grade (often dangerous), fermented brew of variable composition widely consumed amongst poorer people in southern Africa. Although it is often referred to casually as a form of 'moonshine', this is a misnomer, because it is not a distilled product. Sweden The most common moonshine in Sweden (''hembränt'' in Swedish; literally "home burnt") is made of potatoes and/or sugar. Common nicknames are ''skogsstjärnan'' ("forest star"), ''garagenkorva'' (a wordplay on "garage" and " Koskenkorva ") and ''Chateau de Garage'' (a pun on French Wine brands). The production and sales of moonshine is illegal, but there are several loopholes that may be used to avoid prosecution. For instance, selling a still in parts may be legal and it may be sold for legal purposes like making your own distilled water for your car battery. Stores selling home-brewing equipment also sell products that indicate they are intended for the use of making moonshine, for instance flavorings, activated carbon, special yeasts, etc. The making of mash is legal, but distilling it is not. Distilling is often done with simple distillation, but sometimes Freeze Distillation is used, especially to make your own calvados or other drinks with lower alcohol content. Due to relaxed import regulation since 2005, the business has declined. Moonshine is most socially accepted in the countryside. Sri Lanka In Sri Lanka , home based brewing is illegal. However, this is a lucrative underground business in most parts of the island. Illicit brew is known by many names 'Kasippu' (this is the most common and accepted name), 'Heli Arrakku' (archaic term means, Pot-Liquor), 'Kashiya' (which is a pet name derived from more mainstream term Kasippu), 'Vell Beer' (means, beer of the paddy field), 'Katukambi', 'Suduwa' (means, the white substance) depending on locality. Switzerland In birthplace, with Kübler and La Clandestine Absinthe among the first new brands to emerge, albeit with an underground heritage. Thailand In Thailand , home-brewed alcohol, most commonly distilled from Glutinous Rice , is called ''lao khao'' (white liquor). It is sometimes mixed with various herbs to produce a medicinal drink called ''yadong''. United States Moonshine continues to be produced in the U.S., mainly in Appalachia . The simplicity of the process, and the easy availability of key ingredients such as corn and sugar, make enforcement a difficult task. However, the huge price advantage that moonshine once held over its "legitimate" competition legally sold has been reduced. Nevertheless, over half the retail price of a bottle of distilled spirits typically consists of taxes. With the availability of cheap refined white sugar, moonshine can be produced at a small fraction of the price of heavily taxed and legally sold distilled spirits. Moonshine alcohol is used by some for herbal Tinctures . Many of those who buy moonshine do so for the thrill of obtaining and consuming an illicit product and as a defiance of authority. Also, the number of jurisdictions which ban the sale of alcoholic beverages is steadily decreasing. This means that many of the former consumers of moonshine are much nearer to a legal alcohol sales outlet than was formerly the case. Moonshine-like distilled beverages with names like Georgia Moon Corn Whiskey, Platte Valley Corn Whiskey and Catdaddy are produced commercially and sold in liquor stores, typically packaged in a clay jug or glass Mason Jar . As a result of these changes, moonshine production is far less widespread than it was formerly. Although home distillation of ethanol for commercial purposes is still illegal in the United States, legislation was introduced {Link without Title} in November of 2001 to legalize home distillation in much the same way as Home Brewing of Wine and Beer were legalized in 1978. This bill had a single sponsor and did not make it out of the committee. Despite the illegal status, home distillation is growing in popularity in the U.S. with ready availability of instructions, materials and support. As early as Prohibition , there have been stories of moonshiners using their product as a powerful fuel in their automobiles, usually when evading law-enforcement agencies while delivering their illegal product. The sport of " Stock Car " racing Got Its Start when moonshiners would modify their automobiles to outrun federal government Revenue Agents . Another, far less palatable form of moonshining is the prison wine, Pruno . Essentially an orange-based drink, pruno can contain virtually any ingredient available from a prison mess. MOONSHINE IN POPULAR CULTURE Literature
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