Who came up with moonshine?

The term moonshine has been around since the late 15th century, but it was first used to refer to liquor in the 18th century in England. The American roots of the practice (and of modern American whiskey production in general) have their origins in frontier life in Pennsylvania and other grain-producing states.

What does the name moonshine mean?

Moonshine is the glowing light that comes from the moon, and it’s also a common term meaning “homemade liquor.” In an old-timey bluegrass song, a character might drink moonshine in the moonshine.

What was moonshine originally made from?

Alcohol can actually be distilled from almost any kind of grain (the earliest American moonshiners used rye or barley), but virtually all moonshine made in the United States for the last 150 years has been made with corn.

What did they call people who made moonshine?

Moonshine inspired NASCAR. Quick clarification: moonshiners make the liquor, bootleggers transport it. The term “bootlegger” originated in the 1880s, when smugglers would hide flasks in their boot tops.

Who brought moonshine to America?

Jamestown: America’s Moonshine Roots Fast forward to the 1700s, when the English, Germans, and Scots-Irish began immigrating to America and settling into western Virginia’s backcountry, where they would bring their own traditions for making homemade spirits, using fruits to make brandy and grains to produce whiskey.

Why is illegal alcohol called moonshine?

The word moonshine actually comes from an old British term – moonshining – which refers to any illegal night-time activity. In Tennessee, the state passed a law allowing small-scale distilleries to operate in 2009.

Is Brandy the same as moonshine?

The recipe for whiskey, brandy or rum is pretty much the same as for moonshine. Classic moonshine is usually made from corn. Brandy is made from nearly any kind of fruit whereas rum is made from fermented sugar cane and vodka can be produced from potatoes or just a mixture of sugar water and yeast.

Is Everclear a moonshine?

Both Everclear and Moonshine are unaged spirits; however, Everclear is made from grain and Moonshine from corn. Moonshine is a general term used to describe illegally produced corn whiskey. In summary, Everclear is intended to be water and pure ethanol with no flavor contribution.

Where is the moonshine capital of the world?

Franklin County, Virginia
Local History: Franklin County, Virginia – The Moonshine Capital of the World.

What is the origin of moonshine?

Etymology. The word “moonshine” is believed to be derived from the term ” moonrakers ” used for early English smugglers and the clandestine nature of the operations of the illegal Appalachian distillers who produced and distributed whiskey.

What is a slang term for moonshine?

Moonshine was originally a slang term for high-proof distilled spirits usually produced illicitly, without government authorization. In recent years, however, moonshine has been legalized in various countries and has become a commercial product.

What is another word for moonshine?

Synonyms for Moonshine: n. • chaser, alcohol, cup, belt, dram, double, aperitif. • mumbo jumbo, stuff, spiel, nonsense, ravings, whiskey, gobbledegook, Double Dutch, mule. •booze (noun) whiskey. •illegally distilled alcohol (noun) •moonlight (noun) effulgence, light, radiance, luminosity.

What is the history of moonshine?

The term moonshine has been around since the late 15th century, but it was first used to refer to liquor in the 18th century in England. The American roots of the practice (and of modern American whiskey production in general) have their origins in frontier life in Pennsylvania and other grain-producing states.