10 DIY Moonshine Still Plans (and 6 Moonshine Recipes to Try) (2024)

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Do you find the art of moonshining interesting? Have you ever wondered how moonshiners make their stills and delicious products?

Well, I’m going to bring you some of the internet’s options for moonshine still plans, ideas, and also a few moonshine recipes.

However, it’s important to remember, you must have a license to make moonshine. If you don’t, you could have serious legal troubles.If incorrectly prepared, it could be poisonous, so please see this article for informational purposes only.

With this in mind, here’s the information you’ve been looking for when admiring the art of moonshining:

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1. How Moonshine Works

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This is an informative article that gives you all the in’s and out’s of how to make moonshine and how the process works.

Though the graphic isn’t as detailed as some plans, it’ll give you a general idea of how a still can be put together to create the product.

2. Historical Moonshine Stills

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Are you into the history of moonshining? You’ll find this article interesting. It shows you historical moonshine stills for different types of liquors.

It’s fascinating to see what the old-timers used to make their product. You can also see how the stills varied based upon whether you were making whiskey or vodka, rum, or gin. There’s a great deal of know-how that had to go into the process for producing each.

3. Popcorn Sutton’s Moonshine Still

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If you’ve watched the show ‘Moonshiners’, you’ve probably heard the name,Popcorn Sutton. He was a backwoods celebrity known for the fantastic moonshine he created for many years.

Though this still doesn’t come with plans, you can have an up-close look at how he designed this still. The still pictured has since been sold for approximately $15,000.

4. The Reflux Still

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If you’re looking for detailed still plans, this could be it. This still is known as a Boka Reflux still. According to public opinion, it’s a great still for beginners because it’s easy to build at home.

This tutorial gives a detailed materials list and instructions to walk you through each step of the process. If you’ve filed the proper paperwork and have the government’s permission to distill liquor, this could be your starting point.

5. The Pressure Cooker Rum Distillery

Do you enjoy rum? If the answer is yes, you’ll love the idea of this homemade still. It uses a pressure cooker.

Though the details are more on how to make rum, you can still get a good idea of how they make the still by all of the pictures posted in the process. It looks like a neat DIY option for making homemade beverages.

6. Thumper and Slobber Boxes

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I love the television show ‘Moonshiners.’ If you’ve ever watched it, you’ve probably heard them talk about the thumper.

Well, this diagram shows you where a thumper or slobber box would go on your still. If you’re new to the idea of distilling spirits, these diagrams can be helpful.

7. Easy DIY Still

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When learning to be self-reliant, making your own liquor could be something which would slip the list. Well, not in this case.

The person who created this DIY still design did it with the intention of being more self-sustained. The plans have been clearly laid out with a materials list, and they still should be easy to build with only a few basic requirements.

8. Copper Pot Distiller

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Not everyone who sees a still wants to build their own. If you fit in this category, here’s a copper pot still available for purchase through eBay.com.

This is a gorgeous still which would catch the eye of anyone visiting your distilling location. If you’d like a classier option, this could be what you’ve been searching for.

9. Tabletop Moonshine Still

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This is another option where you can purchase a tabletop moonshine still. When some choose to distill alcohol, they don’t have a lot of working space.

In this case, you may choose to go with moonshine still which will fit on a table. It’s easy to use anda good place for a beginner to start.

10. Pan Still

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If you’re considering learning how to make your own beverages, you might be intimidated by some elaborate still plans.

Well, this plan is one that is beginner-friendly. The design is simple. There’s a pan at the top, a collector in the middle, and a bottom section for the mash. It’s an easy set-up that appears to be user-friendly.

Something Different: The Solar Still

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Some people own a still for making their own distilled water. If this is why you’d like to have a still, this is a great option for you.

However, if you’d like to focus on making your still more self-sufficient, a solar option could be a nice option. This walks you through everything you need to know to create the perfect solar still.

Bonus Section: Moonshine Recipes

1. Watermelon Moonshine

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I promised delicious recipes to accompany the moonshine still plans. This is one of those recipes. If you’re someone who prefers a fruitier flavor in their moonshine, this could be for you.

Instead of fermenting corn, you make a mash from watermelon. From there, it’s distilled and makes a delicious and beautiful drink. There’s a video to walk you through the process as well.

2. Dandelion Moonshine

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I bet you didn’t know the pesky weeds in your front yard could be turned into a delicious adult beverage, but they can.

In fact, this recipe will walk you through the process of making dandelion wine using a still. They show you how to age and even how to add a little honey to the mix for a sweeter flavor. If you like to use what you have to make anything you want or need, you’ll love this recipe.

3. Peach Moonshine

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As much as people love traditional corn whiskey, many people like to have some flavor variation in their whiskey.

This is where fruit-flavored moonshines begin to move in. If you have peaches, you can have a delicious flavored beverage to enjoy on hot summer nights.

4. Honey Moonshine

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You’ll find when most people make moonshine; they like to stick with traditional recipes or recipes which involve quality products from the land.

Well, you don’t get much more ‘homegrown’ than sweet honey. If you’d like to indulge in a beverage that is all about honey, this could be the recipe for you.

5. Apple Pie Moonshine

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When I first began watching the show ‘Moonshiners,’ I wasn’t convinced there was much there for me. I’m not someone who drinks much alcohol, but I thought I’d enjoy history.

Well, I began hearing them talk about things like apple pie moonshine, and it caught my attention. Doesn’t it sound delicious? If you agree with my taste buds, here’s the recipe.

6. Corn Whiskey Recipe

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Let’s say you enjoy the traditional flavor of moonshine, and you have all the credentials to homebrew your own spirits.

Well, this is the recipe for you. It’s for a traditional style corn whiskey. Try it and see what your opinion is of it. You may not purchase moonshine again.

Well, you now have a number of different options for stills plus a few interesting recipes!If nothing else, maybe you’ll gain some insight into how much work the generations before us put into making something which is now a common commodity.

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10 DIY Moonshine Still Plans (and 6 Moonshine Recipes to Try) (2024)

FAQs

What do moonshiners use to make their moonshine? ›

Often called, "white lightening," moonshine is technically a white whiskey. Although the majority of the grain used to make moonshine is corn, it typically is made using malted barley and rye as well. Moonshine actually got it's name because it rose to popularity during prohibition in the United States.

How to make mash for moonshine? ›

Here's how to make moonshine mash:

Pour 5 gallons of water into the pot and boil it to 165°F. Turn off heat and stir in flaked corn maize or chosen sugary grain. Stir for about 7 minutes. Stir for 30 seconds every 5 minutes until mash cools to 152°F.

What are the stages of making moonshine? ›

Making moonshine has two main steps: fermentation and distillation. Fermentation is the process of yeast breaking down the sugars in the grains to produce alcohol. Once the fermentation process is complete, the “moonshine mash” (fermented grains and yeast) is sent to the still.

What ingredient was added when making moonshine to increase quantity? ›

As such, it became popular to make “sugar liquor.” This practice added sugar to the mash-bill in order to increase the amount of alcohol produced from the mash.

What do moonshiners use to seal their stills? ›

Each lid is specially made to fit into each pot. Being hand-made, there might be some slight slack between the separate pieces. To seal off any eventual vapour leaks a very simple technique may be used - rye flour and water.

What is the best yeast for distilling? ›

Out of the nine distiller's strains available from Ferm Solutions, we probably use the FermPro 927 (FP927) the most. This strain has excellent temperature tolerance and can ferment to completion in as little as two days, producing an award-winning distillate. 921, 917, 900, 048 and FP1 are also excellent choices.

What is the ratio for moonshine mash? ›

Weigh out your grains in a 2 to 1 ratio. For the 10 gallon batch, this will be 6 lbs of corn and 3 lbs of sweet feed. Set aside until the water reaches 160f. Now you can add the grains and reduce heat to maintain 160f for 45 minutes.

What do you do with the tail in distilling? ›

The tails are the final part of the distillation and contain some vegetal off-flavours. These are also typically discarded, however, like the heads they can also be kept in a separate container for redistilling.

How many times should I distill my moonshine? ›

If the mash contains less than about 10 %ABV alcohol, you have to distill twice (double distillation). If the alcohol content is higher than that, a simple distillation is completely sufficient. This kind of distillation produces the most intense taste and smell, more than double distilled alcohol.

How much corn do I need for 10 gallons of mash? ›

Water: 4 to 5 gallons (to start, additional water will be needed to reach 10 gallons total volume) Sugar: 8 pounds (minimum, can add more for higher yield but risk of stalling fermentation increases) Sweet Feed: 3 pounds (all-stock sweet feed, ensure it's pellet-free) Cracked Corn: 6 pounds.

How do you make moonshine more potent? ›

The hot vapor distills the alcohol a second time, which results in a higher-proof moonshine. If a moonshiner wants to make their alcohol extra potent, they might “charge” the thump keg by adding undistilled mash or a few gallons of alcohol so the steam picks up extra alcohol vapor on its way to the worm box.

What makes moonshine taste better? ›

If you want to get more of the earthy taste of moonshine in your co*cktail, try pairing it with ginger ale (not ginger beer). Sweet ginger ale can make moonshine go down smoother and is a good starting point for those new to drinking moonshine.

Why do you put glycerin in moonshine? ›

Smooths and mellows

Glycerine is used to smooth and mellow spirits and add some modest body.

Are they drinking real moonshine on moonshiners? ›

The series dramatizes their liquor production efforts, law-evading techniques and life. There have been claims by local officials that the show is not what it portrays itself to be. Virginia authorities have stated that no illegal liquor is actually being produced by the people depicted in the show.

Is Sugarland moonshine real moonshine? ›

Product: Moonshine

This stuff is the real deal, bringing back the classic homemade spirits vibe that used to thrive in secret spots all over Appalachia. It's raw, unaged corn whiskey that packs a punch, and you can taste […]

What is Sugarlands moonshine made from? ›

Everything from Sugarlands is small batch and pot distilled a minimum of six times. The moonshine is made from Silver Cloud, fresh Tennessee white corn and cane sugar. The pot still allows Sugarland to produce a great spirit with the perfect balance between being too thin or too heavy.

What is traditional moonshine made of? ›

Moonshine is an alcoholic drink that is typically made from corn, sugar, and water. The corn is mashed, and then the sugar and water are added. This mixture is then boiled. The alcohol content of moonshine can be as high as 95%, which is significantly higher than the alcohol content of most other types of liquor.

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