“It’s a term that’s generally applied to any alcohol that was made illegally. When you break it down, moonshine is really just a high-proof spirit. … No real moonshiner accepts store-bought as the real thing.” Sarah LeRoy, of Piedmont Distillery in Madison, North Carolina, is familiar with the argument.
To power a car, moonshine—in this case, illicit homemade whiskey—must have an extremely high alcohol content, at minimum 150 proof (or 75 percent alcohol by volume), or 190 proof for best results. During the Prohibition, moonshine could be as weak as 63 proof and as strong as 190 proof.
Beside this, Is 100 proof moonshine strong?
The Strongest Moonshine It is impossible to make 100% alcohol by distillation. The strongest known alcohol is ethanol with 95% alcohol. Ethanol is an azeotrope. … The moonshine still needs to be redistilled until you get a 90% or higher proof.
Likewise, Why is real moonshine illegal?
Why Is Moonshine Dangerous? Illegal moonshine remains dangerous because it is mostly brewed in makeshift stills. It can be dangerous on two levels, both during the distilling process and when consuming it. The distilling process itself produces alcohol vapors, which are highly flammable.
Also, Is 100 proof alcohol strong?
100 proof is the fire What those old soldiers might have been testing for, had they known it at the time, was bottled alcohol served at 50 percent strength or more. Any alcohol listed above 100 proof – 50 percent ABV – is straight up flammable and would therefore not hinder the ability of gunpowder to fire.
Is moonshine illegal to drink?
The production of moonshine — or really any spirit — without a license is prohibited by the U.S. government and is very much illegal. … Clear whiskey in the style of moonshine might be for sale, but technically speaking, moonshine is moonshine because it’s produced illicitly.
21 Related Question Answers Found
What is the strongest proof of moonshine?
There is no such thing as 200 proof moonshine. The strongest concentration you can make of ethanol by distillation is about 191 proof. Alcohol “likes” water, and at concentrations higher than 95.6%, it absorbs water from the air until the solution is 4.4% water.
What happens if you drink moonshine?
Potent potables Consuming too much alcohol — even the “safe” kind — can cause alcohol poisoning, affecting heart rate and breathing and even leading to coma and death, according to the Mayo Clinic.
What percent alcohol is 100 proof?
50 percent
Is moonshine illegal in all 50 states?
Still in 2021, home distilling is still illegal in most countries around the world. In 1996, New Zealand was the first country to make moonshining for personal consumption a legal activity. … In the United States however, distilling liquor is a federal offense and therefore illegal in every state.
Is there 200 proof moonshine?
There is no such thing as 200 proof moonshine. The strongest concentration you can make of ethanol by distillation is about 191 proof. Alcohol “likes” water, and at concentrations higher than 95.6%, it absorbs water from the air until the solution is 4.4% water.
Whats the highest proof moonshine can be?
about 191 proof
Is it legal to distill alcohol for personal use?
Federal Distillation Laws Federal law states that it is legal to own a still of any size. … However, be advised it is illegal to distill alcohol without having either a “distilled spirits permit” or a “federal fuel alcohol permit.” It does not matter if the alcohol is for personal use only, not for sale, etc.
How much alcohol can you legally make at home?
Today, federal rules say a household with two adults can brew up to 200 gallons of wine and the same amount of beer each year. (A few states have their own laws prohibiting the practice.) The 1978 law didn’t legalize moonshining, though; you still can’t brew spirits for private consumption.
What states is it legal to make moonshine for personal use?
These can be sold in liquor stores or brewed just for personal use. However, distilling alcohol at home, even for personal use, is illegal under federal law. In 2010, legal moonshine stills opened in some parts of the south, including South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, and Alabama.
Is Moonshine OK to drink?
Why Is Moonshine Dangerous? Illegal moonshine remains dangerous because it is mostly brewed in makeshift stills. It can be dangerous on two levels, both during the distilling process and when consuming it. The distilling process itself produces alcohol vapors, which are highly flammable.
What is the highest proof alcohol?
– Stroh Rum, 160 Proof. …
– Sunset Very Strong Rum, 169 Proof. …
– Balkan 176 Vodka, 176 Proof. …
– Pincer Shanghai Strength Vodka, 178 Proof. …
– Hapsburg Gold Label Premium Reserve Absinthe, 179 Proof. …
– Everclear, 190 Proof. …
– Golden Grain, 190 Proof. …
– Spirytus, 192 Proof.
How can you tell real moonshine?
Old school moonshiners can tell the proof of their shine by shaking the mason jar and looking at the bubbles. If the moonshine has large bubbles that disappear quickly it indicates that the moonshine has a high alcohol content, while smaller bubbles that disappear slower indicate lower alcohol content.
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