Why Is My Moonshine Yellow?

When it’s made right, moonshine (AKA white lightning) should look clear as water. This is the direct result of a multi-phase distillation process which filters out impurities and unwanted chemical compounds. However, some newcomers to the hobby may notice a slight yellow tint to their moonshine, leaving them to question whether or not it’s safe to drink. So, what causes moonshine to develop a yellow tint?

Minerals In The Water

One possible reason why your moonshine has a yellow tint is because of a large concentration of minerals in the water. Assuming you are producing it with tap water, you’ll naturally carry some of these minerals over to your shine.

All tap water systems have trace amounts of minerals and chemicals, most of which are completely harmless. The EPA even allows for a certain amount of each chemical in the tap water system. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for these levels to rise past the “acceptable” range. When this happens, there’s a chance that some of the excess minerals and chemicals in the tap water can change your moonshine’s color.

Thankfully, there’s an easy solution to this problem: use distilled water for your moonshine rather than tap water. You can purchase distilled water from most grocery stores for a buck or two per gallon, which is a small price to pay for the peace of mind knowing that your moonshine is pure. Distilled water is produced using the same distillation process as moonshine; the water is evaporated before condensing back into liquid form.

Dirty Equipment

Another reason why some people experience yellow-colored moonshine is because they use dirty equipment. Unfortunately, moonshine itself isn’t enough to clean the copper pipes and still equipment. You need to run a wash through the system to flush out any trace minerals, bacteria, fungi or other unwanted impurities. Doing this before and after each use will prevent discoloration, off flavors or other unwanted changes from occurring to your moonshine.

Is Yellow Moonshine Safe To Drink

There’s really no way to answer this question without testing the moonshine for contaminants. Some people drink yellow-colored moonshine on a regular basis without any ill side effects, but it’s not something that I necessarily recommend.

To be on the safe side, toss it out and try to determine why it’s yellow in the first place. If dirty equipment is causing the discoloration, then perhaps you should use a sanitation process.