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Above undated message substituted from Template:Dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment by PrimeBOT ( talk) 04:27, 17 January 2022 (UTC)
Moonshine is now legally produced and sold in at least Kentucky and Tennessee. It has been legal for a little more than a year. One distiller that is within 20 min of my location is MBR http://mbrdistillery.com/products.aspx . It seems inappropriate to continue to class moonshine as entirely illegal in this article since this is not the truth. Jacklarwa ( talk) 03:30, 27 December 2010 (UTC)jacklarwa
This recent article from a Lexington News Station (WKYT) speaks about the legality of moonshine. http://www.wkyt.com/home/headlines/Lexington_distillery_makes_legal_moonshine_112584464.html Perhaps this is worth a look at revisiting the definition. Since I last spoke with the editors of this article I have discussed with one of our State Supreme Court Justices, Bill Cunningham, as well as agents at the BATF who state that moonshine is not defined by the legality, but rather the process. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.93.93.230 ( talk) 18:49, 15 November 2011 (UTC)
Considering the folksy nature of the burn test, the description of the moonshine picture should be a little less assertive. Considering the material is already described above, perhaps something like "Appalachian moonshine ... showing its blue flame in a burn test." Strangename ( talk) 10:15, 15 February 2008 (UTC)
Moonshining/bootlegging has led to some "family traditions", at least in the Southern Highlands. Whereas "Great-grandpa" and "grandpa" often made 'shine and bootlegged it, "Dad's" generation often grew marijuana, and grandson is often involved in "cooking off" methamphetimine. The reasons for this are at least threefold. One is that once a family becomes rather comfortable breaking the law and comes to see lawyers, jail time, and the like resulting from the occasional police raid as just part of the "cost of doing business", it is less disturbing of a prospect than it would be to others. A second is that these activities are generally considerably more renumerative than other options widely available to often poorly-educated rural Southerners in poor areas such as agriculture, timper-cutting, and the like. A third is that the same sort of remote, sparsely-populated area is most suitable to all three activities. Whether this sort of info belongs here, and/or in the War on drugs article, I would like to see discussed before doing anything rash. Rlquall 02:06, 22 Nov 2004 (UTC)
I feel like the context of history that created moonshining has not been portrayed here, and for the layman not familiar with American history (or a non-American) that having a mention of prohibition and a link to its history might be useful for them. - Ashi moonshine is the best thing you can drink
OK, but in America making distilled alcohol was a common activity back to Colonial days (1700s) legal and taxed or illegal and banned according to time and location. National prohibition was 1919 to 1933. Prohibition did not create moonshining, for moonshining pre-existed prohibition. Prohibition is good for a side bar on moonshining: it did create a big-city market for rural moonshine (Johnson City TN got its nickname "Little Chicago" during the prohibition era as a source of illegal whiskey for Chicago IL). Naaman Brown ( talk) 17:13, 8 April 2009 (UTC)
I have a picture of an old still firebox from middle Tennessee. I thought it would make a nice contrast to the old black and whites.
Thoughts?
In
brewing the
mash is produced when the
grain (mainly malted barley (or
malt)) is heated in water to allow the naturally occurring
enzymes in the malt to convert the starches from the grain into sugars. The product of mashing is called
wort, which is boiled with
hops. This is the starting point of fermentation. Given that there is no alcohol in the mash I can't see how this statement can be correct:
the distillation process requires heat to boil the alcoholic liquor from the "mash,"
Does the word have a different meaning in moonshining?
Alun
03:59, 14 November 2005 (UTC)
This article conflates the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791-1794, which was primarily in Pennsylvania, with the more recent activities by and against treasury agents (Revenooers). This is an incorrect reference and reference should be made to the Wiki entry on the Whiskey Rebellion.
There seems to be two reasons given for the name white lightning, maybe one should be removed. Shogun 13:25, 1 June 2006 (UTC)
There should be some mention of using activated carbon in filtering out impurities. As the product can have quite a pungent or awful taste after the first run (depending on quality of ingredients), activated carbon can make it more easily drinkable. Good for product safety.-- Elmeri B. Suokirahvi 19:24, 1 June 2006 (UTC)
I have just read this article for the first time, since stumbling upon it, and I think that it reads extremely well, and contains just the right amount of information. Has anyone considered nominating it as a Good Article? EuroSong talk 23:32, 17 June 2006 (UTC)
I find the article to be inaccurate and incredibly lacking. The production process of moonshine has as many variations as there are between scotch, whiskey and bourbon. Jacklarwa ( talk) 03:30, 27 December 2010 (UTC)jacklarwa
Is this true? Even if a clinically significant amount of iron was absorbed into the mash during the boil, shouldn't the iron be left behind during distillation? NTK 22:47, 17 September 2006 (UTC)
If this was the case, what about iron frying pans and cookware? And I have never heard of this even in places where there is signifigant iron in the drinking water. Moheroy 06:43, 24 September 2006 (UTC)
I know iron can affect the quality of the alcool that is produced, but I've never read about "iron poisoning" before". Any reference available? Or could it be a slang term for other metal poisonings (lead, chrome, ...)? Hugo Dufort 04:14, 25 September 2006 (UTC)
All I can think of is Lockjaw from Tetnis (often found in rust), but that seems improbable, especially considering that bacteria are killed by 12% alcohol concentration, let alone 60 odd%. -THobern- THobern 23:46, 15 March 2007 (UTC)
I added lead: https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Moonshine&diff=942262081&oldid=942261367 -- Bawanio ( talk) 18:19, 23 February 2020 (UTC)
The article now includes many types of beer or perhaps wine, just becuse they are made without paying tax to the government, and it should be stripped back to illegal distilled spirits. Beer, wine, and other fremented alcohol beverages which are not concentrated by distillation are not moonshine. In the Columbia section, it goes on about people chewing up food and spitting it into a container where it ferments to produce an extremely low percent of alcohol. Then they drink the stuff. But if it is not distilled, it is not moonshine. The material about homemade alcohol from several other countries is unclear about whether distillation is involved, and lack articles on the beverages and lack references, so some cleanup and deletion is needed if references cannot be found. Edison 13:41, 27 April 2007 (UTC)
This trial might want to be integrated into this article somehow, which a book was written after: The Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935, T. Keister Greer, 2002, ISBN 0972235515 ( review) ∞ ΣɛÞ² ( τ| c) 09:51, 23 May 2007 (UTC)
Good grief! Is this article going to be added to every geographic WikiProject for every geographic subdivision where moonshine has been produced? -- orlady 21:11, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
Shouldn't this be included in the relevant country's section? It's certainly not a statement which is true universally. If it's not relocated within a few days, I'll just delete it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.7.106.54 ( talk) 14:41, 8 October 2007 (UTC) EDIT: Sorry, that was added by me just before I signed in Kenifh 14:44, 8 October 2007 (UTC)
Yeah this needs to be changed, it isn't even clear which country it relates to (though im assuming USA) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 195.194.252.133 ( talk) 20:30, 15 October 2007 (UTC)
Look at this sentence:
"In other words if it lights then it contains a good amount of alcohol for you to but if it does not flame then the supposed moonshine has been watered down."
Does that sound right to you? "... a good amount of alcohol for you to but..." ??
I've found an etymology on this blog, and it sounds quite plausible too. Can anybody find a backup for this ref? "Moonshine, or untaxed liquor, is made from fermented corn mash distilled in a cooker. It derives its name from the term moonlighter used in England to describe the night time runners that smuggled brandy from France." -- Farry ( talk) 20:57, 7 February 2008 (UTC)
VERIFIED. According to a book about the illicit production of alcohol in Scotland, "Moonshine Whisky" is that made in the dark, akin to "black market" or "Uisge Breatha Dubh" which is Gaelic for "Black Whisky". I have the book around here somehwere, can't remember the author or title. It is very common for things done in concealment to be associated with darkness or nighttime, done under the moonlight, et cetera Someone should correct the article with your etymology! --Insightfullysaid ( Insightfullysaid ( talk) 20:42, 18 March 2008 (UTC))
Honest folk did their work in the sunshine. Work done in the moonshine was nefarious. 203.221.203.50 ( talk) 01:50, 7 May 2016 (UTC)
in an episode of the 20s cartoon Felix The Cat (felix finds out), felix gets drunk on moonshine, and because of this is unable to solve the riddle; why does the moon shine> —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.83.121.172 ( talk) 15:00, 21 June 2008 (UTC)
It is naive indeed to think that the Baldwin sisters had no idea that "The Recipie" was in fact moonshine. They were well aware of this but could not openly admit this fact due to their well-cultivated status as genteel Southern ladies. All such "information" is subjective and of questionable encyclopedic value IMO. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.154.47.86 ( talk) 02:50, 9 October 2008 (UTC)
How can there be an article on moonshine, without there being a mention of NASCAR? Stock car racing has moonshine running at its origin. Greg Salter ( talk) 17:36, 7 December 2008 (UTC)
I deleted the image because, as it is drawn, the output tube protrudes below the lid. As pressure rises, the steam will pump the undistilled mash right out of the pot until the mash level drops below the tube's opening. DavidOaks ( talk) 22:48, 5 January 2009 (UTC)
I believe that a beverage can only fit into the broad definition of Moonshine if it is distilled. A number of examples in the articles are not explicitly stated as being distilled. Homebrew is not the same as Moonshine. Roger ( talk) 08:59, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
The term implies distillation according to Hollywood script writes. In ye olde hillbilly England moonshine (slang for illegal, opposite of sunshine) would have been any untaxed alcohol, mostly wine smuggled from France. The US has a huge corn harvest and much is wasted. Corn makes thin watery beer, and so it is mashed, fermented and distilled by hillbillies. 203.221.203.50 ( talk) 02:05, 7 May 2016 (UTC)
I think the content should be divided into illegal products and those that are legally produced though in the tradition of historically illegal ones (small scale "boutique" distilleries). Roger ( talk) 09:08, 16 January 2009 (UTC)
The idea that "siddique" comes from SID, "Saudi International Drink" implies that this name is commonly written in English. This sounds like folk etymology, and at very least needs a citation as a possibility. 67.186.21.23 ( talk) 22:39, 28 March 2009 (UTC)
Having spent some considerable time in the said country and sampled more than my fair share of SID, it is generally understood that SID is the abbreviated form of siddique and not the other way round. Siddique is an arabic term meaning friend. Due to the nature of the state, there are unlikely to be anything other than heresay references. 88.211.59.146 ( talk) 10:52, 17 June 2013 (UTC)
Regarding the sentence:
"The product is often called "white lightning" because it is not aged and is generally sold at high alcohol proof, often bottled in canning jars ("Mason jars", see photo)."
I believe that saying the product is often called white lightening has some truth and some misrepresentation. I am a resident of Southern Appalachia (Western North Carolina). My grandfather and great-grandfather were both "moonshiners." Among those who actually produced the illegal product of ethanol for consumption, the term "white lightening" would have immediately alarmed them to expect trouble. The term "white-lightening" was used only by outsiders and the "Revenuers," or federal government tax agents. The area where I grew up and live, where "moonshining" was (and still is, but to less extent) part of the culture, refers (or referred) to the product in the following manner: shine, stump, medicine, "corn-likker", snake-bite medicine, and stuff (e.g., "Where's the best stuff?"). In any case, here, such a reference would be considered a misnomer.
I agree with the rest of the sentence, insomuch as saying it was generally sold at high proof and stored in Mason/Ball Jars.
I am certainly not a "scholar" on the subject; however my culture and family history have passed down such privy facts. If/When I gather the proper documented sources, would anyone be opposed to such a change of the "United States" section of the article "moonshine?"
Thanks for your input.
User: Jason.guard
A Moonshine in popular culture section was deleted from this article some time ago. I agree that this material is best not placed here, but it should be presented in Wikipedia because this information is notable and will be of interest to many readers. Therefore, I have created a new article with the Moonshine in popular culture material formerly in this article. -- Zeamays ( talk) 17:12, 25 August 2009 (UTC)
New article looks good. Alanmoss ( talk) 17:38, 25 August 2009 (UTC)
Content on this page pertaining specifically to moonshine production by locale has been relocated to a newly created Moonshine by country page. Please add further comments regarding moonshine production by country to that page. Wikiuser100 ( talk) 20:30, 27 November 2009 (UTC)
Being somewhat of an expert in moonshine and a big fan of Scotch whisky, I have to say that anyone who is of the opinion that moonshine is substandard to tax-paying spirit just hasn't been around the block. Scotland still produces some of the best illicit whisky in the world, and in some Central American countries the "guaro controbando" is the only spirit worth drinking. I sampled a Yankee brandy moonshine aged in the char of the french oak casks in which the wine was aged. Its illegal to add charred staves into a cask in Scotland. Thus, we can achieve "faster" aging in the same amount of time and make a superior illicit spirit. I do ethanol consulting and do college lectures about alcohol production, and I'm from a very long lineage of unlicensed distillers going back to Ireland and Scotland, but the thing that really qualifies me to have a valuable opinion that moonshine can be superior is the simple fact that I have tasted the stuff. This article should not so "as-a-matter-of-factly" dismiss the idea of superior moonshine! 'Twould be an unfortunate stereotype. "Stolen water tastes sweeter," Proverbs. insightfullysaid —Preceding undated comment added 01:29, 16 December 2009 (UTC).
The article says moonshine is made from corn, but then there is a reference to "moonshine [distilled] from potato skins". What gives? I always thought moonshine was made from potatoes anyway, not corn. Is there a better definition? Some dictionaries just define it as "illicit" alcohol. - 124.168.91.226 ( talk) 04:46, 2 February 2010 (UTC)
Hoochinoo is a specific liquor made by the native americans of what is now Alaska. This is so fucking stupid and offensive god I hate this shitty encyclopedia. Wikipedia? More like shittypedia.
"hooch also hootch, "cheap whiskey," 1897, shortened form of Hoochinoo (1877) "liquor made by Alaskan Indians," from the name of a native tribe in Alaska whose distilled liquor was a favorite with miners in 1898 Klondike gold rush; the tribe's name is said by OED to be from Tlingit Hutsnuwu, lit. "grizzly bear fort." ( http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=hooch ) So one could explain the cited denomination "hooch" and one could explain the redirection as well.
-- 176.0.191.45 ( talk) 14:06, 19 March 2012 (UTC) Marco Pagliero Berlin
You can easily detect Methanol using the Boric acid test. (Pour a sip of the destillate on Boric acid and set it on fire - a green flame indicates Methanol) -- 188.106.138.102 ( talk) 16:08, 22 June 2012 (UTC)
Regarding something else in the article, the last time I set fire to some methanol it didn't "burn with an invisible flame". It's very hard to see in daylight, but in the dark it burns with quite a distinctive flame, ethanol is similar and also not very bright in daylight. In any case, if methanol burns with a completely invisible flame, that's not proof that its presence has no affect on the appearance of an ethanol-mix flame, as the article assumes. If I had a good bucket of ethanol nearby I could engage in some OR, but I don't. Adx ( talk) 05:03, 13 February 2014 (UTC)
I will be working on this page and I wanted to let anyone involved know. I'm wanting develop a section on the history and prevalence in Appalachia. I also wanted to looking moonshines ties with Mountain Dew. I am open to any suggestions or ideas. I am starting my editing in sandbox if anyone would like to take a look.— Preceding unsigned comment added by Jp302408 ( talk • contribs) 22:01 21 July 2014 (UTC)
Not mentioned in article. Is it some kind of Asian moonshine? Equinox ( talk) 04:08, 20 July 2015 (UTC)
The 2nd and 3rd paragraph of this article need to be moved to the US section of the article Moonshine by country, otherwise we might as well reimport all the info from there. Yes sure there are local history sources listed that claim that the word moonshine comes from Appalachia, but that doesn't justify anything beyond mentioning the etymological origin of the word itself. The phenomenon of moonshine is a worldwide one and this article simply doesn't reflect that, it comes across as having been relegated to a footnote. 158.223.164.73 ( talk) 11:59, 31 July 2015 (UTC)
How to make moonshine or something better ? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.173.48.53 ( talk) 19:03, 11 March 2016 (UTC)
1. distilled spirit produced without state control (eg: home made, may be illegal depending on the jurisdiction of the time and country).
2. distilled spirit sold illegally but not necessarily produced illegally.
3. non distilled spirit drink produced as (1).
4. non distilled spirit sold as (2).
5. anything of illegal origin (slang for illegal).
6. anything marketed under the name (brand name). 176.63.176.112 ( talk) 02:47, 27 December 2016 (UTC).
The way the article describes moonshine is a little confusing. The term moonshine originally meant illegally produced liquor, a good deal of which was of a clear variety such as corn whisky, though some might be of the same style as the commercially produced variety such a bourbon whiskey or gin (bathtub gin). Then in 2010, they started selling legal moonshine which used the same recipe/styles as illegal moonshine of the past but this stuff could be sold legally on store shelves. Informally the legal version of moonshine has been referred to as “Legal moonshine” even though the manufacturers just call it moonshine. So currently, the term moonshine by itself typically refers to the illegal stuff in common speak and to the legal version in liquor industry terminology. So I propose we reword the lead and other relevent section to be clearer how these terms where and are used by the industry and everyday people, particularly how the term moonshine can refer both to “legal moonshine” and illegal liquer (Aka mountain dew, hooch, etc.). — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.239.8.149 ( talk) 22:35, 20 October 2018 (UTC)
How can you say this guy was making moonshine in the early 20th century? According to his bio he was born in 1946 and died in the 2000's. 204.48.46.11 ( talk) 21:40, 19 December 2018 (UTC)
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion:
Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. — Community Tech bot ( talk) 02:34, 9 January 2020 (UTC)
Added information about states where moonshine is legal to produce for personal consumption and added a table going into more detail about the legality for each states. Tyler Troutman ( talk) 17:41, 30 March 2023 (UTC)
Certain edits to this page have been added in contribution to the 2023 Amplifying Appalachia Edit-a-thon. These edits consist of copyedits and source contribution edits. RoxJox ( talk) 19:41, 30 March 2023 (UTC)
Edits were made to the history section, as it looked like it could use some fleshing out, and gave some minor insight into illegal distilling prior to the prohibition era, including the Whiskey Excise Tax of 1791 and the Revenue Acts of 1861 and 1862 respectively which lead to an increase in the production of untaxed liquor which would be considered moonshine and add respective sources to the section VoidedEyes ( talk) 22:53, 31 March 2023 (UTC)
Would more myths added to the Myth section require a proper source as long as it is a widely accepted myth? Could less reputable sources be used in this case? VoidedEyes ( talk) 22:57, 31 March 2023 (UTC)
I am going to start a section under history allowing a more detailed history of moonshine in each state. Feel free to add any other states, or let me know if this isn't what we are going for on here. Thanks. Charon's Oar ( talk) 02:27, 5 April 2023 (UTC)