A Look into moonshine Hooch, white lightning, mountain dew, moonshine, etc, they are all names for the illeagally made liquor brewed in the mid-Atlantic and southern rural regions of US. The idea of making moonshine came about because the government put such high taxes on liquor it was more cost effective just for the citizens to make their own. There are many variations of the liquor, and just about anything can be thrown into the mix. The styles of making the liquor and the taste change with each region you go even though the makers use practically the same ingredients and the same base of producing the product. The making of illegal liquor has been around the US ever since the colonists first came over, but with them came the …show more content…
The carbon dioxide is lost to the environment and what is left is a wine like drink with fairly low alcohol content, between 6-20%. The strength of the mash is determined by the yeast used and the sugar content (higher sugar higher alcohol content). From there the shiners (makers of moonshine) will use a process of distillation to separate the alcohol from the mash to make the product more potent. In distillation the fermented mash is heated to evaporated the Ethyl alcohol which evaporats at 173 degrees farenheight. The vapor is then in a cold tube and comes out more potent. The reason it becomes more potent is because the alcohol that is produced in the mash is being condensed into a smaller size with the same amount of alcohol. The stuff that comes out can be anywhere from 50-99% depending on how well it is made. Distilation may be the only way to produce a strong finished product there are serious dangers that the process brings. First, there is a dangerous chemical in the mash that is produced, and boils at a lower temperature than ethyl alcohol, methanol. Although methanol is an alcohol, it is not the good kind and is the reason people would go blind from drinking it. Methanol boils at 143 degrees farenheight and is usually the first to start flowing, so the first few gallons are discarded. Another important danger is because during distillation there is an open flame and
Prohibition had existed way before the whole country grew into chaos and terror trying to ban alcohol throughout United States. It was the act of banning the manufacture and sale of alcohol. In the early 1700s, many colonists directed Prohibition towards the Native Americans. Colonists created local laws that prevented people from selling or trading alcohol to them. They were concerned with their behavior due to alcohol. Although there were laws with the ideas of Prohibition, the laws were not enforced. This allowed liquor trade to continue and created a critical effect on the use of alcohol by Native Americans. In the 1900s, Prohibition did well trying to stop the promotion and the process of alcohol, but caused disruption, crime, and confusion
As the new amendment came into effect, the liquor did not disappear, but still trickled in and out of saloons and cities. Gangsters rose to power almost overnight as their attention turned to the profitable business of bootlegging (Internet site on Al
The process of brewing begins with malted barley, which is the major ingredient. This, when milled and heated, gives a sweet liquid rich in protein called wort. Wort is an ideal medium for yeast to grow in. The yeast then turns sugars in the malt to alcohol which is called fermentation. In comparatively recent times, hops began to be
Southern Appalachia is located in the Eastern United States cultural region. It stretches from the southern part of New York to northern Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia. This cultural region in the Eastern United States relies heavily on moonshine and the distribution of moonshine. Moonshine is illicitly distilled or smuggled liquor. Other words that are common when speaking of moonshine is white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, homebrew, and white whiskey. The making and distribution of moonshine has helped shape the literature, music, and environment of Southern Appalachia while the Whiskey Rebellion and the Prohibition helped lead moonshine to its part in the Southern Appalachian society today. Moonshine is an essential part of the Appalachian
The origin of this source comes from an American writer, Karen Blumenthal, so she was affected or she may have known someone who was affected by Prohibition.The purpose of this book is to inform others about the numerous ways alcohol was smuggled during Prohibition. The value of this source is that she also has written about other topics in the 1920’s such as the stock market crash in 1929, so she has knowledge about the time period. The content of this book was very valuable, as it talked about the the unintended consequences of Prohibition. Prohibition wanted to ban alcohol, but instead lead to the rise of gangs in America illegally smuggling the alcohol. The value of this book is that it is written by an expert, so the information in it well credible and trusted. However, a limitation is that the writen in 2011, so it isn’t a primary source. I learned from this source that illegally smuggling alcohol, or bootlegging was
The start of the prohibition was started by ratifying the 18th amendment into the constitution which stated the it was illegal to drink, buy, sell or transport in any way shape or form. The passing of this law caused outrage in cities and town do to some people relying on alcohol to deal with stress and other things. If people couldn't buy alcohol they would make their own moonshine or bathtub Gin which was called bootlegging. Bootlegging became a huge part of the american society with people making alcohol in their house and selling it to their neighbor or anybody who wanted some. Most of the alcohol was smuggled came into the USA from Canada, Mexico or the West Indies. Bootlegging grew into a vast illegal empire that was rife with bribery
The prohibition of liquor began when the use of alcoholic beverages rose after the American Revolution. In order to stop this many “societies” were organized to support the movement which attempted to convince people to
So most of the times there would be ingredients that should be in the alcohol. '' Now that alcohol was no longer subject to health inspection, various ingredients were used to make homemade liquor and brew, many of which were harmful or even fatal, nevertheless, the illeg0al alcohol market was generating millions of dollars per year (Coffey).'' Many citizens that depended on alcohol to survive, would do anything and everything in their power to get their hands on it. And they do not care what they are ingesting, they just want that free feeling that alcohol gives them. ''Above all, many Americans with a taste of liquor were determined to get hold of a drink one way or another (Sandbrook).'' Often times it would kill the person, but they did not care what it did to their body. It was also very expensive to buy from bootleggers, or on the black market. ''Almost immediately after Prohibition began, Hardware stores began selling portable stills. Distilleries in Canada and Mexico flourished as ''Rum Runners'' smuggled liquor across the borders to sell on the black market (Coffey).'' Like any law there is always going to be a black market, underground source that is making money hand over fist. In fact in this case distilleries in Canada and Mexico made some profit . Alcohol that you buy could be laced with a deadly chemical, but that is the risk you take to have just that one drink, that one drink could be your last
Liquor was banned in the United States from 1913 to 1920 (Slavicek). In that time 75% of all liquor smuggled into the United States was through the Purple Gang (“Subject Focus: The Purple Gang”). The Purple Gang sold the liquor to local “Blind Pigs”, Al Capone in Chicago, and many places out west like St. Louis, etc. The Purple Gang’s liquor trade was certainly on one of their biggest accomplishments.
Between 1920 and 1933, alcohol was banned in the United States. This law was considered to have been very difficult to enforce and resulted in the growth of many criminal organizations, including the modern American Mafia.
Listen up, this is the time that the government has passed the 18th amendment and make all the intoxicating drinks to sell in store and to transport. The one reason the passed the 18th amendment was when a lot of women was complaining about how they were being beaten by the husbands when they were drunk. When they passed the laws that did not stop people from selling beer and moonshine. The people would make moonshine in distinct locations that no one knew where they had their product at and they did not want the police to find out because they would be sent the prison for a while. This make people want to do it more because it is illegal, the crime rate went up and people would have secret bars called speakeasies were there would being a group
The issue of prohibition is certainly not a new one to our nation. In 1919, the
To make moonshine you would need to make a still that can be made out of almost anything including a pressure cooker. Then you need to make mash out of 2.5 pounds of corn meal, 10 gallon of water, corn, yeast and malt and let it ferment for about 2-3 weeks. Then after it ferments you put it in your still. When you put it the still you want the still to stay at a constant heat not real hot then not that hot. Then you wait for the still to do its work and wait at the end of the worm for the moonshine to barley run or drip. Then you catch it in a quart jar with a piece of cloth over it to filter the moonshine.
Alcohol has been socially acceptable for many years. It’s always used for ceremonies or celebrations. Without this substance a party would never be a party. Prohibition was not ever going to work. Many Americans kept drinking even if it was outlawed. They went out of their way to obtain this drink. If you
On October 5, 1946 in Maggie Valley, NC a legendary moonshiner was born. The man’s name was Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton. Furthermore, Popcorn grew up and went deep into the backwood of the Appalachian Mountains, and started moonshining. Without doubt, Popcorn cleared himself out a spot and started building his still. First, he took some copper and made a cylinder out of it with a copper bottom on the still, which had a fire made under it. Second, Popcorn put a funnel shaped piece of copper on the top, with a copper tube running to a small wooden barrel called the thump keg. The thump keg filters the alcohol steam through water. Third, the filter steam traveled out of the thump keg through a copper tube to the worm box. Finally, the tube started