Theoretical Moonshine question

mdboatbum · Dec 12, 2012

Let's say someone found themselves in possession of a batch of White Lightning, Mountain Thunder, corn Likker or good old fashioned 'Shine. Let's assume, for the sake of argument, that he came about this through the proper legal channels, as obviously distillation of spirits is against the law.

If this person, not being in possession of a charred oak barrel, were to take some golf ball sized chinks of oak and partially char them, so the outer 1/2" inch was charred but the middle of the chunk wasn't, and put 1 or 2 of these chunks in a pint sized mason jar filled with the aforementioned perfectly legal corn liquor....then let it age for a year or so...then mix the contents of all the jars in a 5 gallon bucket and strain back into the jars....

Would the result be a reasonable approximation of Bourbon? Or, since the person in question lives nowhere near Bourbon County, KY, I guess we should just call it American Sour Mash Whiskey.

Think it'll work? I'm thinking it would, as it's the charred oak that really does the work. Given the small quantity in each jar, and the surface area of the wood chunks, I think putting the oak in the whiskey would serve essentially the same purpose as putting the whiskey in the oak.

Any suggestions?

sound1 · Dec 12, 2012

Any suggestions? Suggestions....uh...lets see...um, how about share??

mdboatbum · Dec 12, 2012

Haha!! Well, if it gets to the point where there's something to share, sure!!

pineywoods · Dec 12, 2012

If someone were to fall into something like that I would highly suggest that they make some of it into apple pie shine. I have heard that stuff is very very good but of course would have no personal knowledge of how good it tastes and how smooth it goes down. The char stick idea should work too but of course again I wouldn't know for sure never having seen any of that stuff

mdboatbum · Dec 12, 2012

Good point about the "char stick". If one were to cut a piece of kindling about 1" wide and slightly shorter than the depth of the jar, I'd guess 90% of it would stay submerged.

I love this forum!

Oh, and the apple pie sounds might good too!

gamehawg · Dec 12, 2012

I think you should research the mechanism in how spirits are flavored by being stored in wood. It takes years for that subtle flavor to infuse into liquor as it travels in and out of the pores.

I would anticipate your concocotion would fill the mouth with a taste of burnt wood with finish with a rubbing alcohol finish.

Since its a theoretical exercise, I would go buy a bottle of ibuprofen, and some mix of choice (kool aid or hawaiin punch) , and mix it and drink it... omelet with smoked bacon and 4 advil for breakfast.

mdboatbum · Dec 12, 2012

Umm, thanks?
Not sure I understand.

mike johnson · Dec 12, 2012

Its not illegaal to make your own ethenol for feul so id just say its an additive for your car

.

al truistic · Dec 12, 2012

Virginia ABC stores sell moonshine. In fact when I first moved here 20+ years ago, I bought a bottle. It was completely undrinkable. There was nothing you could cut it with to make it palatable, and I use to dare people to try it. On the other hand I have had some of the "not sold by the State" type, and it was much better.

As to your question, I don't have a clue.

smoking b · Dec 12, 2012

     I know a guy who tried almost exactly the same thing a few years ago & it came out nasty! It could barely be used for jello shots. Tried some plugging a melon & it couldn't be eaten. It was a big waste of good stuff doing that to it - even worse than 3rd runnings!

     After that, he made a couple smaller charred oak barrels held together with chain welded to make bands & has been aging some that way going on a year & a half now. It gets sampled every few months & is starting to get a nice mellow flavor to it but it still has a ways to go yet. It seems like it is going to work great in the long run though.

     I also second the apple pie & peach as well!!!

                                  By the way, this is all stuff I have been told.................

daveomak · Dec 12, 2012

If one were to try and "clean it up" using charcoal, I have heard coconut activated carbon, ie. charcoal, is the purest and finest... It has been so long ago I heard that, it could have been a dream.... Charred oak sticks, pencil size would give more surface area... I heard that also.... There you go... here-say... wish I had some taste-say to pass on...

linguica · Dec 12, 2012

Mdboatbum, I'm soo glad you asked that question. First let me bend your ear. When a teen, we used to say a country cabin occupied by a man named Barney Geesler, who used to tell stories about running "hooch" in the Los Angles area. He bought a defunct bank and opened up the Bank Cafe. The safe was used for storage of the liquor. He owned three Pierce Arrows sedans with the tops cut off and replaced with stake side truck beds. He said he could out run any cop car. The entrance to his bar was the at the end of a dead end ally by means of a "sliding wall" on the side of the builing. I know it's all true because I have been to the Bank Cafe and have driven on of the surviving Pierce Arrows. Now your answer, Barney told us that he colored his Hooch brown by taking a tablespoon of regular sugar and holding it in a flame until it was fully burned. Then use that burnt sugar spoon to stir the booze until desired color is achieved. Sorry to bend your ear, but it's a true story.

kathrynn · Dec 12, 2012

A gal friend makes her own apple pie and peach shine. Used to get "a specific portion" from up in Tennessee. Now she uses PGA. People beg her for some when she makes it. Has a nice burn all the way down to the tummy too.

linguica · Dec 12, 2012

KathrynN said:
A gal friend makes her own apple pie and peach shine. Used to get "a specific portion" from up in Tennessee. Now she uses PGA. People beg her for some when she makes it. Has a nice burn all the way down to the tummy too.

Remember those WW2 movies where the bomb bay doors open on the B-17"s and the bombs "whistle" on the way down. I swear a shot of shine sounds the same plus the burn.

kathrynn · Dec 12, 2012

Lol! So true!!!!! Sortof like the bomb scene from Dr. Strangelove. Yaaaahoooooo!

shoneyboy · Dec 12, 2012

I'm looking at......Hey!!! What the #$#!@ ?? Well, thought I was looking at a quart of Apple Pie Moon Shine....Looks like I'm out now.... But I can buy it locally....$20.00 a quart…..Legally…..And they sell the cherries soaked on shine too....I don't think they are as good, but it is a personal taste thing....ShoneyBoy

mdboatbum · Dec 12, 2012

Heee heee! This is pretty entertaining. And Gamehawg, upon re-reading your post, it makes sense now, thank you for the input. ShoneyBoy, Might wanna wait 'til tomorrow to restock.

If one were to try this, and take the advice of one who sounds like he has the experience to give good, sage advice, one might just report back in a few months with results. That is, if one is walking free, able to see and still pen a coherent sentence.

And that bomb scene from Dr. Strangelove is one of my favorites of all time. Slim Pickins was the bomb. Pardon the pun. Rumor has it he was headed toward Terre Haute, IN. Probably toward my childhood home. Yes, I was a charter member of the Kiss Army. God help me,

ironhorse07 · Dec 13, 2012

A friend of mine who makes his own shine (for medicinal purposes) does this with plain white oak chips. He can get the chips at the local home brewers supply even. Really mellows it out. When he was first researching this we found alot of good info on a few forums. What we found out is you have to be careful not to over oak it (gets bitter) if I remember correctly he only uses a couple of tbsp of chips in a gallon of shine. When they sink it's done.

Doug

mdboatbum · Dec 13, 2012

Ironhorse07 said:
A friend of mine who makes his own shine (for medicinal purposes) does this with plain white oak chips. He can get the chips at the local home brewers supply even. Really mellows it out. When he was first researching this we found alot of good info on a few forums. What we found out is you have to be careful not to over oak it (gets bitter) if I remember correctly he only uses a couple of tbsp of chips in a gallon of shine. When they sink it's done.
Doug

Now that there is the kind of info I was seeking!! Thank you kind sir! (or Ma'am, pardon me for assuming)

stovebolt · Dec 13, 2012

Most people just drink it in it's original (clear) condition, but some do "oak" it or age it or both. Oak whiskey barrels are made of white oak but red oak imparts about the same flavor if you are just using "chunks" in a smaller quantity. I have put a couple of palm sized chunks to a gallon jar after charring them with a propane torch, and after just a couple of days you get some fair color change. In just about 2 weeks you get some fairly substantial taste change.

Many home distillers "oak" some of their product for special occasions and use the rest as is. It's all in what you like. I have never aged any for very long, but even short term makes a fair change.

You can legally make ethanol with proper licensing, but the record keeping is substantial and it has to be "denatured" so you can't drink it. In other words it's a PITA.

Some of the requirements for bourbon are the grain bill must be at least 50% corn, it must be made in the US, and it must be aged at least 2 years in new oak barrels. (to the best of my memory). Their definition of new I think is no more than 3 uses. Most are them taken apart and shipped to Scotland. Some are now turned into smoke wood.

Chuck

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