Why Did My Moonshine Come Out Blue?

Brown-colored apple pie moonshine.

When it’s made correctly, moonshine should possess a crystal clear appearance — similar to good old fashioned H2O. Whether it’s brown (shown to the right), orange, or blue, colored moonshine is usually an indication of something wrong. Blue in particular can be alarming, as most people associate blue with heavy chemicals. Does this mean you should toss out your batch of blue shine and reattempt another batch in your still?

The short answer is NO, you shouldn’t drink blue-colored moonshine. There’s always a chance that the color was caused by some natural organic reaction, but there’s also a chance that it was caused by some buildup of toxic chemicals and/or heavy minerals. Regardless of how badly you want to test it out, it’s not worth jeopardizing your health. Pour the blue moonshine down the drain and try again with a fresh batch.

It’s also recommended that you dispose of any mash or other ingredients used in connection with your blue moonshine. Even if they aren’t tainted, it’s simply not worth taking the risk. Mash is cheap and easy to make, so there’s no reason why you should keep it.

What causes some moonshine to come out with a blue color? Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this question, as it could be one of dozens of different possibilities. Coppers stills, for instance, are known to react with salts and other impurities. If these impurities are left inside your still when you use it to create moonshine, your batch of shine could turn out blue. Copper is the metal of choice for moonshine stills, but you must still clean them thoroughly before each use to ensure there’s no impurities or contaminants lingering behind.

So if you’re planning to create another batch of moonshine, make sure you clean your still thoroughly beforehand. Don’t just wipe it down with an old towel and call it a day, but instead use white apple cider vinegar to clean each and every component of your still. Apple cider vinegar is a safe all-natural compound with anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Unlike bleach or other harsh chemicals, you don’t have to worry about tainting your still when using it.

When you are finished cleaning your still, you can make a second attempt to create a batch of moonshine. Hopefully, a clean still will do the trick by preserving its clear appearance.

Have you experienced a batch of blue moonshine before? We’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject!