Moonshine

Moonshine is illicitly distilled liquor. In the rural southern United States it is most commonly corn whiskey. The word “moonshine” was in use as early as 1785, but at that time it meant smuggled liquor. The current meaning came into use about 1875. Americans were distilling homemade whiskey much earlier than that, of course, for both medicinal and recreational purposes.

Moonshine, also known as angel teat, Kentucky fire, squirrel whiskey, swamp dew, white lightning, white mule, and many other nicknames, had its heyday during Prohibition. It is made by fermenting water, yeast, malt, sugar or molasses or sorghum, and almost any sugary or starchy edible including, among many other possibilities, cornmeal, hog feed, blackberries, rose hips, potatoes, pumpkins, or raisins in a still. By definition, moonshine is unregulated, so it may be poisoned or unsanitary. It is often cut with water, glycerin, food coloring, extracts, or caustics, and its most dangerous side effect is lead poisoning, which can lead to blindness or death. Unlike regular whiskey, which goes brown from aging in barrels made of charred oak, moonshine is clear and is usually not aged at all.