The craft of making moonshine--an unaged white whiskey, often made and consumed outside legal parameters--nearly went extinct in the late twentieth century as law enforcement cracked down on illicit producers, and cheaper, lawful alcohol became readily available. Yet the twenty-first century has witnessed a resurgence of artisanal distilling, as both connoisseurs and those reconnecting with their heritage have created a vibrant new culture of moonshine. While not limited to Appalachia, moonshine is often entwined with the region in popular understandings. The first interdisciplinary examination of the legal moonshine industry, Modern Moonshine probes the causes and impact of the so-called moonshine revival. What does the moonshine revival tell us about our national culture? How does it shape the image of Appalachia and rural America? Focusing mostly on southern Appalachia, the book's eleven essays chronicle such popular figures as Popcorn Sutton and explore how and why distillers promote their product as "traditional" and "authentic." This edited collection draws from scholars across the disciplines of anthropology, history, geography, and sociology to make sense of the legal, social, and historical shifts behind contemporary production and consumption of moonshine, and offers a fresh perspective on an enduring topic of Appalachian myth and reality.

In this detailed guide for the modern moonshiner, the President of the American Distilling Institute conveys the basic techniques for quick and easy homemade bourbon: how to use sugar to distill "moonshine"; how to build an inexpensive corn cooker and make corn whiskey; how to build a mash tun to create a grain whiskey wash; and finally, the piece de resistance, how to distill that wash into whiskey.

Nothing but clear, 100-proof American history. Hooch. White lightning. White whiskey. Mountain dew. Moonshine goes by many names. So what is it, really? Technically speaking, “moonshine” refers to untaxed liquor made in an unlicensed still. In the United States, it’s typically corn that’s used to make the clear, unaged beverage, and it’s the mountain people of the American South who are most closely associated with the image of making and selling backwoods booze at night—by the light of the moon—to avoid detection by law enforcement. In Moonshine: A Cultural History of America’s Infamous Liquor, writer Jaime Joyce explores America’s centuries-old relationship with moonshine through fact, folklore, and fiction. From the country’s early adoption of Scottish and Irish home distilling techniques and traditions to the Whiskey Rebellion of the late 1700s to a comparison of the moonshine industry pre- and post-Prohibition, plus a look at modern-day craft distilling, Joyce examines the historical context that gave rise to moonshining in America and explores its continued appeal. But even more fascinating is Joyce’s entertaining and eye-opening analysis of moonshine’s widespread effect on U.S. pop culture: she illuminates the fact that moonshine runners were NASCAR’s first marquee drivers; explores the status of white whiskey as the unspoken star of countless Hollywood film and television productions, including The Dukes of Hazzard, Thunder Road, and Gator; and the numerous songs inspired by making ’shine from such folk and country artists as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Alan Jackson, and Dolly Parton. So while we can’t condone making your own illegal liquor, reading Moonshine will give you a new perspective on the profound implications that underground moonshine-making has had on life in America.

Moonshine is corn whiskey, traditionally made in improvised stills throughout the Appalachian South. While quality varied from one producer to another, the whiskey had one thing in common: It was illegal because the distiller refused to pay taxes to the US government. Many moonshiners were descendants of Scots-Irish immigrants who had fought in the original Whiskey Rebellion in the early 1790s. They brought their knowledge of distilling with them to America along with a profound sense of independence and a refusal to submit to government authority. Today many Southern states have relaxed their laws and now allow the legal production of moonshine—provided that taxes are paid. Yet many modern moonshiners retain deep links to their bootlegging heritage. Moonshine Nation is the story of moonshine’s history and origins alongside profiles of modern moonshiners—and a collection of drink recipes from each.

Have you wondered how to make your own alcohol? Maybe you've watched some YouTube videos and still had some questions? Well, 'How to Master Moonshine' will answer all of those questions. Author R.W. Marshall will walk you through how alcohol is made in plain English, with step-by-step, easy to understand instructions. Everything is covered, from a simple sugar wash, to how to make moonshine, Rum, Whiskey, Gin, Vodka, and other traditional spirits. Throughout the book, the author stresses safety and proper methods. Much of the information on the Internet is questionable, and contributes to the myth that making your own alcohol is dangerous. It's really very easy and safe, and it's only dangerous if you do it wrong! This book is a comprehensive guide from start to finish, and explains what to do and what not to do at each step. The author includes dozens of recipes, including President George Washington's recipe for rye whisky! Did you know that besides being president of the United States, he was one of the most prominent liquor producers of his time?! Even if making alcohol is illegal where you live, the bonus section includes dozens of recipes for how to replicate your favorite liquors and liqueurs, which you can do legally, using commercial grain alcohol or vodka. You'll save a ton of money doing it yourself! You could payback the cost of the book the first time you make your own spirits! We know you'll love How to Master Moonshine!