How much moonshine does a gallon of mash make?

For the instant gratification seekers in the crowd, here’s the short answer: A 1 gallon run will yield 3-6 cups of alcohol. A 5 gallon run will yield 1-2 gallons of alcohol. A 8 gallon run will yield 1.5-3 gallons of alcohol.

How much mash does it take to make 5 gallons of moonshine?

For a 5 gallon mash: (201)

5 gallons soft, filtered water. 7 lbs (3.2kg) cracked corn. 6-8 pieces/kernel is the proper break. If using bird feed, make sure it is perishable, or in other words is free of preservatives.

How much mash do I need for a 5 gallon still?

For example, for every 1 gallon of water, you would use 1 pound of sugar, and 1 pound of corn meal. So for a 5 gallon mash (which is recommended for your first batches of moonshine) you would use 5 gallons of water, 5 pounds of corn meal, and 5 pounds of sugar.

How much alcohol will a 20 gallon still produce?

A great indicator of the success of your run will be the starting alcohol and the final proof. Commonly known as the alcohol by volume or ABV, starting alcohol is a measurement of the amount of alcohol in your mash. For example, If your starting alcohol was 10% you could expect 2 gallon of alcohol from a 20 gallon run.

How much Heads do you throw out?

Always discard the foreshots — they make up around 5% or less of the product collected during a run. Throw out the first 30 ml on a 1 gallon run, the first 150 ml on a 5 gallon run, or the first 300 ml on a 10 gallon run. Heads come off of the still directly after the foreshots. Simply put, they taste and smell bad.

How much is a gallon of moonshine worth?

It costs around $8 per gallon for the sugar and wheat to make the moonshine. The selling price is around $25 a gallon if sold in bulk, or $40 for retail price.

Can you drink the heads of moonshine?

These contain the most volatile alcohols and should not be ingested, as they contain methanol and other undesirables. Commercial distillers always discard the foreshots and never consume them.

Can you distill moonshine twice?

Distill It Twice

Although it takes longer, distilling your moonshine twice will likely have a positive effect on its flavor. As long as you aren’t in a hurry to produce a batch of moonshine, run it through your still a second time. Doing so will help to filter out any impurities that may create an unpleasant flavor.

What proof is moonshine?

Moonshine usually has an ABV of 40%, but can sometimes be as high as 60%-80% ABV. Alcohol content can be converted to proof by multiplying it by two. So, 40% ABV is 80-proof. The distilling process is the key to a spirit’s alcohol content.

Why do moonshiners put a string in the end of the worm?

Online sources confirm that the pecker used in the moonshine distilling process is a member bone of a racoon. “It’s placed in the outlet of a moonshine still to help the distillate to flow smoothly into the collection vessel. … The small bone is sterilised and used to transfer the moonshine from the still into the jar.

Why do moonshiners shake the jar?

“When shiners shake a jar of moonshine to check the proof, they’re observing the size of the resulting bubbles and how long they take to dissipate,” a video on the topic explains. … “When low-proof alcohol is put to the shake test, the bubbles are small and linger on the surface for a longer period of time.

How can you tell if moonshine is good?

Why do moonshiners dump the first jar?

Always dispose of the first bit of moonshine, in order to avoid contamination with methanol (which has a lower boiling point than ethanol). Contagion with methanol can be noticed by the bad smell and taste of your moonshine and needs to be avoided, since it is toxic.

What is Ole Smoky moonshine made of?

corn
Both Ole Smoky’s moonshine and whiskey are comprised of a (mostly) corn mash bill consisting of 84% corn, 8% rye and 8% malted barley.

Should I put anything in my thumper keg?

Depending on your thumper, it’s typical to plan to fill it about halfway with liquid. This is the case for our Brewhaus thumpers, but if you are using a different thumper, check with the manufacturer or adjust the fill level as you see fit.

How do you detect methanol in moonshine?

Why is my moonshine blue?

Basically, this is caused by the alcohol vapor corroding the copper metal. As the copper is literally eaten away, fragments transfer into the moonshine batch, which ultimately gives it a bluish tint. It’s important to note that moonshine made with fruit is more likely to turn out blue.

Why is my moonshine yellow?

One possible reason why your moonshine has a yellow tint is because of a large concentration of minerals in the water. … Distilled water is produced using the same distillation process as moonshine; the water is evaporated before condensing back into liquid form.

What proof is moonshine if it burns blue?

128 proof
At 128 proof, it’s clear, clean and exactly what moonshine should be. Purity and perfection are the name of the game when it comes to Ole Smoky®Blue Flame Moonshine. Evidence of our high quality, high proof moonshine is all in the color of the flame – if it burns blue, it’s true.

What color flame should moonshine burn?

Why does my moonshine smell like vinegar?

The vinegar taste is caused by a bacteria called acetobacter, which converts alcohol into acetic acid. To stop this from happening, you should ensure that your brewing equipment is thoroughly sanitised and prevent oxygen from coming into contact with the pint when transferring and bottling.

What is the best flavor for moonshine?

While everyone has their favorite, here are the top 5 flavors guaranteed to give you the full moonshine experience.
  • Blackberry. A classic straight from the old timers. …
  • Dill Pickle. This one’s for me. …
  • Peppermint. Christmas time only. …
  • Cherry. It’s a classic. …
  • Apple Pie. It’s sweet.

How do I know if I have ethanol or methanol?

Take note of the scent: If it is pungent and irritating, methanol is present in the alcohol. If the scent is dominating and fruity, only ethanol is present.

What alcohol is 128 proof?

Bottled at 128 proof (64% ABV), it’s nothing if not strong. Yet it’s not actually rocket fuel, in that it’s surprisingly palatable, despite it’s potency.