Ever heard of the term "moonshine mash" or moonshine potion? In fact, the moonshine concoction is a mixture of cornstarch, sugar, water, and yeast that is fermented and distilled to produce a very delicious tasting alcoholic beverage. In addition to drinking straight, moonshine ingredients can also be added to cocktails or other drinks to enrich the taste. Interested in making your own at home? Read on for this article!
Ingredients
- 1 kg mashed corn flour
- 4, 5 kg of white sugar
- 40 liters of water, use distilled water, if possible
- 1 tbsp. active dry yeast, we recommend using Turbo brand
- 240-480 ml of water
- 1-2 bags of dried fruit (optional)
Step
Part 1 of 3: Mixing the Dough
Step 1. Bring 40 liters of water to a boil in an 80 liter stainless steel pot
Heat the water to its maximum boiling point, usually marked by the appearance of large bubbles on the surface.
Use a pan that has been cleaned and sterilized. Do not use dirty and/or stained pans
Step 2. Add 1 kg of corn flour; simmer for 5-7 minutes
Once the water boils, add the cornstarch to it and stir with a wooden spoon until the flour dissolves and thickens.
Step 3. Lower the temperature to around 70 degrees Celsius
Reduce the heat to keep the solution warm, but no longer boiling. If possible, use a thermometer to make sure the temperature of the cornstarch remains consistent.
Refrigerate the cornstarch for best results when mixed with the yeast at a later stage
Step 4. Add 4.5 kg of granulated sugar and 1 tablespoon of yeast to the cornstarch solution
Stir all ingredients until well combined using a wooden spoon for 5-10 minutes. The texture of the solution should resemble a runny soup.
Once the sugar and yeast are mixed, turn off the stove
Step 5. Mix dried fruits into the mixture to enrich the taste
If you want to make a fruity concoction, try soaking 1-2 bags of dried fruit in 240-480 ml of water. Then, mash the fruit until the aroma and taste come out, then pour the results into the cornstarch solution. Stir all ingredients until well mixed using a spoon.
Try making a moonshine concoction from fruits like bananas, apricots, and pineapples to enrich the taste. If you want, you can also use dried fruits such as blueberries, cherries, and dried strawberries for an equally delicious taste
Part 2 of 3: Fermenting the Moonshine Potion
Step 1. Close the potion container, then place it in a cool, dark place
For example, concoctions can be stored in a pot with a lid or a container covered with a cloth, then placed in a cupboard, alcohol storage shed, or in the back of a cupboard to allow the fermentation process to run smoothly. In particular, the ideal storage temperature is 16 degrees Celsius or less.
The moonshine concoction can also be poured into a closed cooler so that the fermentation process is not disturbed
Step 2. Ferment the concoction for 4-5 days
Generally, moonshine concoctions made with Turbo yeast need to be fermented for 4-5 days. Meanwhile, if the concoction is made with baker's yeast, usually the fermentation process needs to be carried out for 1 week.
Step 3. Check the ingredients to make sure there are large bubbles on the surface
After 4-5 days, check the condition of the ingredients to make sure there are large bubbles that are not bursting or moving very slowly on the surface. Generally, this is an indicator that the herb is ready to be distilled.
If there are still a lot of small bubbles on the surface of the potion, it means the potion has to be fermented for a longer time and is not fit for distillation
Part 3 of 3: Sifting and Refining Moonshine Potions
Step 1. Distill the ingredients in a copper distiller, if applicable
If you don't have one, try renting or purchasing a copper distiller from a nearby shop that sells equipment for distilling alcohol. In particular, look for copper distillers that are specifically intended for distilling alcohol at home, as they are both more practical and smaller in size than regular alcohol distillers. Then, pour the ingredients into it and immediately distill it by following the directions listed in the user manual.
- If you plan to continue brewing moonshine and other alcoholic beverages, it's a good idea to invest some of your money in buying a good quality copper distiller.
- In various online shops, copper distillers with a capacity of 50 liters are sold at a price range of 12-18 million rupiah.
Step 2. Use a pressure cooker and copper pipe as a temporary distiller
Heat the ingredients to 73 degrees Celsius in a pressure cooker, attaching the copper pipe to the pot's steam vent with electrical tape. Then, position the pipe so that it is submerged in a container of cold water, and place the end of the pipe in a clean container. While the ingredients are cooking, the steam from the pot running down the pipe will condense and turn into moonshine. The moonshine potion will then flow through the pipe into a clean container that has been prepared.
This method is a home approach to replacing copper distillers. Therefore, make sure you always monitor the entire process to ensure the results are effective. Also make sure the temperature of the potion remains constant so that it can condense and become moonshine
Step 3. Allow the ingredients to cool down
Once distilled, let the ingredients come to room temperature. At this stage, the moonshine potion should look like a clear liquid with impurities floating on the surface.
Step 4. Strain the ingredients using a plastic sieve and cheese strainer
Place a large plastic strainer over the soup pot, then cover the surface with a cheese strainer. Grasp the edges of the cloth with your non-dominant hand, then pour the ingredients into the pot with your dominant hand. Once all the ingredients have been poured, remove the plastic sieve to remove any larger pulp, such as fruit clumps or cornstarch.
- Then, squeeze the cheesecloth to separate the ingredients from the smaller impurities. A cheese filter cloth is an ideal tool for filtering out residue or dirt on the surface of the ingredients to ensure that the results are absolutely clear.
- Repeat the process until all the ingredients have been filtered. The color of the potion should look clear and clean afterwards.
- Discard the dregs.
Step 5. Store the moonshine herb in a clean and sterile airtight glass container
Then, place the container in a cool, dark place. Later, the moonshine concoction can be drunk directly or added to various cocktails and other drinks.
Ideally, moonshine herbs can last for 6 months to 1 year if stored properly
Warning
- Making moonshine at home risks exposing you to bacterial contamination and alcohol poisoning. At least, know this risk before doing it.
- Understand that it is illegal to make concoctions to produce beverages with a high alcohol content without a special license, whether for private or public consumption, in many countries, including the United States and Indonesia.
