Understanding Fermentation and Distillation In Moonshine

Fermentation and distillation are two fundamental steps in the production of moonshine. The bottom line is that you can’t produce authentic moonshine without performing these two steps. Fermentation is necessary to create the high alcohol content that’s commonly associated with moonshine, while distillation helps to filter and purify the beverage. Unfortunately, many newcomers to the hobby of moonshining get the two confused. If you’re still scratching your head trying to grasp the concept of fermentation and distillation, keep reading for a more in-depth breakdown of these steps.

Fermentation

As you may already know, fermentation occurs before distillation. The mixture of ingredients, known as mash, are placed in an open container with something like a cheesecloth wrapped tightly around the top. This allows air to pass freely through but prevents bugs, dust and dirt from contaminating the mash. One of the biggest mistakes first-time “shiners” make is trying to ferment mash in an air-tight container. If there’s no way for air to pass through, the yeast won’t be able to properly convert the grains and/or sugars into alcohol.

So, how long does fermentation take? There are several different factors which play a role in the fermentation of moonshine; however, a typical batch takes anywhere between 7-14 days, so remain patient and don’t give up hope on your moonshine. It’s a slow and tedious process that takes time, patience and dedication.

You know your batch of moonshine is finished fermenting when there’s no more CO2 coming out of the air lock. During fermentation, CO2 is created, which in turn creates bubbles on the top of your beverage. Keep an eye on your air lock and the surface of your beverage for signs of bubbles.

Distillation

The next step in the production of moonshine is known as distillation. After your beverage has finished fermenting, you’ll need to heat it up to roughly 172 degrees Fahrenheit. This heat forces the alcohol to evaporate, at which point it travels through a copper tube that’s placed in cold water. At the alcohol vapor makes its way through the copper tube, the cold water re-condenses it back it into liquid form. There’s a small drip valve at the end of the copper tube where the final product — moonshine — comes out.

That’s the basic ‘gist’ of how moonshine is made. Fermentation and distillation are two equally important steps in the process, and understanding them will give you the edge on your next attempt to produce shine.