What is the average alcohol content of moonshine

You probably know moonshine as the dangerous alcoholic drink that was made popular and made illegally during Prohibition. You might even know it as the alcohol that's strong enough to power a car, thanks to the movie Lawless - and moonshine actually can get your motor running if it's over 75 percent alcohol by volume via Slate. However, with so much bad press regarding its dangerously high alcohol content, it might surprise you to learn that moonshine is not only widely available today but also no more dangerous than other high-proof alcohols via Wide Open Eats.

It is recognizable by its clear color and high alcohol content , which is how it gained its notoriety as a particularly potent alcohol. Its roots can be traced back to Prohibition. When it comes to making your own moonshine at home, this process can be extremely difficult if you are not prepared with all of the tools that you need to ferment the liquid and later on, distill the alcohol.

However, when done right, the process of making moonshine is exciting and rewarding because it requires part science and part artistry in order to completely get it right. Through this process, many people get stumped on how to proof moonshine , which is one of the most crucial steps to creating good liquor that is smooth and full of flavour. So, the question is, how do you proof moonshine? The answer is a lot simpler than you might imagine, provided you have the proper tools at your disposal.

When it comes to what proof moonshine is, the figure usually hovers around proof, which is about 75 percent alcohol. This number can vary and depends on a lot of different factors. In the United States, corn-whiskey is capped at Moonshine veterans can tell the proof of their moonshine by simply observing the bubbles that form after shaking a jar of moonshine. Larger bubbles indicate a higher alcohol content , whereas smaller bubbles that disappear slowly indicate a lower alcohol content in the liquid.

Those who have been making moonshine for years are even able to match the readings of a hydrometer by simply observing the moonshine and bubble patterns. For beginners however, mastering this is definitely not required because there are simple tools that can be used. Hydrometers are accurate, reliable and a must-have for when it comes to making moonshine. Once you have created your mash and fermented it for a couple of weeks, the next step is to distill your product.

The process of distillation separates the alcohol from water. This concentrates the alcohol from the liquid separated. This is the last step of making moonshine and it is crucial in order to get high proof moonshine. In order to indicate the potential alcohol content of a liquid, an instrument called a hydrometer is used. A hydrometer is used to measure the density of a liquid, compared to the density of water and can tell you the alcohol content of the liquid.

There are two different types of hydrometers: proofing and brewing. A brewing hydrometer is used to measure the potential alcohol content through a gravity reading, whereas a proofing hydrometer also known as a spirit hydrometer is used in the process of distilling to measure the final alcohol content.

While this is important for diluting and proofing, this also is crucial for making cuts during a run. Step 3: Place your hydrometer inside the cylinder and wait for it to come up and float. Step 4: Once the hydrometer floats, read the alcohol content of your proofing moonshine. However, do note that sometimes the reading on each hydrometer varies. Without going into specific details just yet, proof moonshine is a pretty strong concoction.

It has high alcohol content, a glass or two is more than what you probably need. Now, do note that the actual alcohol content of a proofing moonshine depends on several factors, like temperature. Would you dare drink a proof moonshine volume? Drinking it pure would seriously burn your throat. That being said, be careful with moonshines that have plus final alcohol content. On average, to proof is pretty much the level people can comfortably drink their moonshine.

We generally advise against drinking and above proof moonshine. Just to give you an idea, you could use a proof brandy as gasoline for your fuel. Can you imagine what a proof can do to you? Worse, your tongue will probably feel burnt. The biggest difference between proofing and brewing hydrometers is the scale. This article focuses on proofing hydrometers, which is the type of hydrometer a commercial distiller would use with a parrot to measure the proof of alcohol that has been distilled.

For information on brewing hydrometers, check out our article titled, " How to Use a Hydrometer. The point at which the liquid meets the scale on the side of the hydrometer indicates proof. The most common way commercial distillers measure the proof of distillate is by using a proofing hydrometer and a copper parrot. A proofing hydrometer is a very easy tool to use. A distilling hydrometer is placed into the parrot and the parrot is placed near the output of the still so that distillate from the still discharges into the parrot input see illustration.

Distillate will actually fill the parrot from the bottom up, causing the hydrometer to float. The floating hydrometer will show the proof of the product coming out of the still. The distillate will then exit the parrot, dripping into the collection vessel.