Is It Safe to Drink Moonshine?

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Is It Safe to Drink
Moonshine? 
B L O G  |  V I L L A G E  W A R E H O U S E  W I N E  &  S P I R I T S
https://villagewarehousewineandspirits.com/
With the drinking culture we have
developed in the past few decades,
liquor stores and bars alike have
acquired a wide variety of specialty
wines, beers, and spirits. 
Among the fastest-growing crazes is
the resurgence of moonshine. This
formerly hush-hush, home-distilled
drink of backwoods Appalachia is now
legit! Its sale is being regulated by the
U.S. government in some states. 
So what exactly is moonshine? How
come it is winning the hearts of several
craft distillers despite being one of the
most illicit drinks in the US? Is it really
safe to drink moonshine? 
What is Moonshine? 
Moonshine, more popularly known as
“hooch” or “homebrew” is made from a
mash of corn, sugar, yeast, and water.
Unlike whiskey and bourbon,
moonshine is not aged. 
It has a very high alcohol content,
sometimes peaking at 190 proof.
Traditionally, it is being produced in a
homemade moonshine still and bottled
in a mason jar. 
It was first introduced in the US in the
18th century by Scottish and Irish
immigrants. 
It quickly became a mainstay of
Southern culture. As its popularity
crested, the government became
interested in taxation.
People started making it in the middle
of the night, under the light of the
moon, hence its name. 
This is to hide the smoke that would
run off the boiling liquor from local law
enforcers.
Today, moonshine is widely available
in some states and online for purchase. 
Why Do People Love Drinking
Moonshine? 
While most people drink it straight
from the jar, moonshine is excellent for
mixing cocktails! It is basically
whiskey, so you can combine it with
Coke, ginger ale, lemonade, iced tea,
and more!
Is It Safe To Drink Moonshine? 
You probably have read stories about
the dangers of moonshine and other
illegally distilled drinks. Illegal
moonshine remains to be dangerous
because it is brewed in makeshift stills. 
The distillation process produces
alcohol vapors, which are highly
flammable. The threat of explosion is
too high, hence moonshine stills are
better outdoors.
Although most of the stills in operation
today are all-copper variety, plenty of
old vehicles are still around. These old
handmade stills use lead-based solder
to make connections. 
Unfortunately, lead can leach out of the
radiators and connections. Lead is toxic
to the body. Lead poisoning can cause
memory loss, brain swelling, paralysis,
and even death.
In larger batches of distilled
moonshine, tainting with methanol
can occur. 
Methanol vaporizes at a lower
temperature than ethanol, so it is the
first liquid to be produced during the
distillation process. The larger the
batch, the more ethanol. 
Methanol is highly poisonous. When
metabolized in the body, it can cause
serious side effects. With just a few ml,
the dangerous potential of methanol
can be undetectable. 
You will just get a hangover. However,
10 ml or more of methanol, even split
up among drinks, can permanently
damage your optic nerve and cause
partial or complete blindness. The
lethal dose is 30 ml. 
How Can You Tell Which
Moonshine Is Safe To Drink? 
One way to test the purity of a
moonshine liquor is to pour some in a
metal spoon and set it on fire. If it burns
with a blue flame, it is more likely safe
to drink.
If it produces a yellow or red flame, it is
an indication of the presence of lead.
However, this spoon test does not
detect the presence of methanol, which
burns a colorless flame. 
However, this spoon test does not
detect the presence of methanol, which
burns a colorless flame. 
With hundreds and thousands of
moonshine being produced on a
regular basis, chances are some of it
will be tainted.
When made properly, moonshine is
simply a strong alcohol with a very
hard taste or “kick” because it has not
been aged. 
To be sure of the quality, steer clear of
inexperienced distillers and sellers!
Buy only at reputable liquor stores.
If you are in Colorado, check out
Village Warehouse Wine and Spirits in
Avon, near Edwards and Vail. Pair your
tasty grub with a delicious drink while
hanging out in the mountain! 
((970) 949-5999
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https://villagewarehousewineandspirits.com/
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