Today we celebrate Moonshine Day. Yes, you heard right. Moonshine.
This high-proof spirit was once taboo. There was a time when the very word ‘moonshine’ conjured images of toothless, skinny men, standing outside a tin-roofed shack somewhere in the Appalachians—beckoning you to take a drink from a murky-glass jug. The contents of which could peel paint and had a small chance of making you go blind.
Thankfully, that’s not the case. Moonshine has come a long way.
Recipes for moonshine cocktails have been taking the spirits community by storm.
Granted—these recipes don’t show you how to actually distill Moonshine. These are much more crowd-friendly, crafty Moonshine cocktails that temper the high-alcohol content with sweet ingredients.
Be sure to get your low prices on these crafty cocktail supplies from Spec’s. And have a happy Moonshine Day!
Caramel Apple Moonshine
Ingredients
- 500 ml Moonshine (unflavored)
- 2 qts apple juice
- 2 qts apple cider
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 8 whole cloves
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar
- 10 caramel candies (unwrapped)
- 250 ml Caramel Vodka
Directions
- Steep tea bags in 1 cup of hot water in quart jar for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove tea bags and add apple cider vinegar, stevia, and ginger. Give it a good stir and then add ice and water to fill jar. If it’s a chilly day, leave out the ice.
Pineapple Coconut Moonshine
Ingredients
- 750 ml of Moonshine
- 1 qt of pineapple juice
- 16 oz can of coconut water
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 6 tbsp of brown sugar
- (2) 1 qt mason jars
Directions
- Put pineapple juice, coconut water, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks in a pan bring to a boil. Take it off the element once it boils and let it cool.
- Split the bottle of moonshine into the two mason jars and add the juice from the pan as well as a cinnamon stick to each jar.
- Wait at least a couple weeks for the flavors to blend, then enjoy!
Cherry Mint Lemonade Moonshine
(Serves 1)
Ingredients
- 1½ oz moonshine
- 2½ tbsp sugar, divided
- 4 fresh mint leaves
- 2 cherries
- ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about the juice of 1½ lemons)
- ½ cup water
- Extra lemon slices, mint, and cherries for garnish. (all optional)
Directions
- In the bottom of a mason jar or other glass, muddle together ½ tablespoon sugar and mint leaves. Add 2 cherries to the jar and muddle together with sugar/mint mixture.
- In a separate cup with spout, combine lemon juice, water, and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
- Strain lemonade into mason jar. Whisk. Stir in moonshine slowly. Add ice.
- Garnish with extra lemon slices, mint, and cherries, if desired. Serve chilled and enjoy!
