10 DIY Moonshine Still Plans (and 6 Moonshine Recipes to Try) (2024)

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Do you find the art of moonshining interesting? Have you ever wondered how moonshiners make their stills and delicious products?

Well, I’m going to bring you some of the internet’s options for moonshine still plans, ideas, and also a few moonshine recipes.

However, it’s important to remember, you must have a license to make moonshine. If you don’t, you could have serious legal troubles.If incorrectly prepared, it could be poisonous, so please see this article for informational purposes only.

With this in mind, here’s the information you’ve been looking for when admiring the art of moonshining:

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1. How Moonshine Works

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This is an informative article that gives you all the in’s and out’s of how to make moonshine and how the process works.

Though the graphic isn’t as detailed as some plans, it’ll give you a general idea of how a still can be put together to create the product.

2. Historical Moonshine Stills

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Are you into the history of moonshining? You’ll find this article interesting. It shows you historical moonshine stills for different types of liquors.

It’s fascinating to see what the old-timers used to make their product. You can also see how the stills varied based upon whether you were making whiskey or vodka, rum, or gin. There’s a great deal of know-how that had to go into the process for producing each.

3. Popcorn Sutton’s Moonshine Still

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If you’ve watched the show ‘Moonshiners’, you’ve probably heard the name,Popcorn Sutton. He was a backwoods celebrity known for the fantastic moonshine he created for many years.

Though this still doesn’t come with plans, you can have an up-close look at how he designed this still. The still pictured has since been sold for approximately $15,000.

4. The Reflux Still

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If you’re looking for detailed still plans, this could be it. This still is known as a Boka Reflux still. According to public opinion, it’s a great still for beginners because it’s easy to build at home.

This tutorial gives a detailed materials list and instructions to walk you through each step of the process. If you’ve filed the proper paperwork and have the government’s permission to distill liquor, this could be your starting point.

5. The Pressure Cooker Rum Distillery

Do you enjoy rum? If the answer is yes, you’ll love the idea of this homemade still. It uses a pressure cooker.

Though the details are more on how to make rum, you can still get a good idea of how they make the still by all of the pictures posted in the process. It looks like a neat DIY option for making homemade beverages.

6. Thumper and Slobber Boxes

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I love the television show ‘Moonshiners.’ If you’ve ever watched it, you’ve probably heard them talk about the thumper.

Well, this diagram shows you where a thumper or slobber box would go on your still. If you’re new to the idea of distilling spirits, these diagrams can be helpful.

7. Easy DIY Still

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When learning to be self-reliant, making your own liquor could be something which would slip the list. Well, not in this case.

The person who created this DIY still design did it with the intention of being more self-sustained. The plans have been clearly laid out with a materials list, and they still should be easy to build with only a few basic requirements.

8. Copper Pot Distiller

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Not everyone who sees a still wants to build their own. If you fit in this category, here’s a copper pot still available for purchase through eBay.com.

This is a gorgeous still which would catch the eye of anyone visiting your distilling location. If you’d like a classier option, this could be what you’ve been searching for.

9. Tabletop Moonshine Still

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This is another option where you can purchase a tabletop moonshine still. When some choose to distill alcohol, they don’t have a lot of working space.

In this case, you may choose to go with moonshine still which will fit on a table. It’s easy to use anda good place for a beginner to start.

10. Pan Still

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If you’re considering learning how to make your own beverages, you might be intimidated by some elaborate still plans.

Well, this plan is one that is beginner-friendly. The design is simple. There’s a pan at the top, a collector in the middle, and a bottom section for the mash. It’s an easy set-up that appears to be user-friendly.

Something Different: The Solar Still

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Some people own a still for making their own distilled water. If this is why you’d like to have a still, this is a great option for you.

However, if you’d like to focus on making your still more self-sufficient, a solar option could be a nice option. This walks you through everything you need to know to create the perfect solar still.

Bonus Section: Moonshine Recipes

1. Watermelon Moonshine

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I promised delicious recipes to accompany the moonshine still plans. This is one of those recipes. If you’re someone who prefers a fruitier flavor in their moonshine, this could be for you.

Instead of fermenting corn, you make a mash from watermelon. From there, it’s distilled and makes a delicious and beautiful drink. There’s a video to walk you through the process as well.

2. Dandelion Moonshine

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I bet you didn’t know the pesky weeds in your front yard could be turned into a delicious adult beverage, but they can.

In fact, this recipe will walk you through the process of making dandelion wine using a still. They show you how to age and even how to add a little honey to the mix for a sweeter flavor. If you like to use what you have to make anything you want or need, you’ll love this recipe.

3. Peach Moonshine

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As much as people love traditional corn whiskey, many people like to have some flavor variation in their whiskey.

This is where fruit-flavored moonshines begin to move in. If you have peaches, you can have a delicious flavored beverage to enjoy on hot summer nights.

4. Honey Moonshine

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You’ll find when most people make moonshine; they like to stick with traditional recipes or recipes which involve quality products from the land.

Well, you don’t get much more ‘homegrown’ than sweet honey. If you’d like to indulge in a beverage that is all about honey, this could be the recipe for you.

5. Apple Pie Moonshine

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When I first began watching the show ‘Moonshiners,’ I wasn’t convinced there was much there for me. I’m not someone who drinks much alcohol, but I thought I’d enjoy history.

Well, I began hearing them talk about things like apple pie moonshine, and it caught my attention. Doesn’t it sound delicious? If you agree with my taste buds, here’s the recipe.

6. Corn Whiskey Recipe

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Let’s say you enjoy the traditional flavor of moonshine, and you have all the credentials to homebrew your own spirits.

Well, this is the recipe for you. It’s for a traditional style corn whiskey. Try it and see what your opinion is of it. You may not purchase moonshine again.

Well, you now have a number of different options for stills plus a few interesting recipes!If nothing else, maybe you’ll gain some insight into how much work the generations before us put into making something which is now a common commodity.

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10 DIY Moonshine Still Plans (and 6 Moonshine Recipes to Try) (2024)

FAQs

How much moonshine can you make with a 8 gallon still? ›

A 8 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 20%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 1.79 gallons. A 10 gallon run with a starting alcohol of 10%, a final proof of 100, and a collection efficiency of 85% will yield 1.7 gallons.

What ingredient was added when making moonshine to increase quantity? ›

As such, it became popular to make “sugar liquor.” This practice added sugar to the mash-bill in order to increase the amount of alcohol produced from the mash.

What can you make in a still? ›

These types of stills are actually multi-purpose; they can be used to distill water, essential oils, fuel alcohol, spirits, and with the proper permits and safety precautions, moonshine. Although alcohol is legal again, making whiskey at home, and in some cases even owing a still, remains illegal.

How much corn do I need for 5 gallons of mash? ›

For a 5 gallon mash: (201)

7 lbs (3.2kg) cracked corn. 6-8 pieces/kernel is the proper crack. If using bird feed, make sure it is perishable, or in other words is free of preservatives.

What is the best type of moonshine still? ›

The Pot Still is one of the most popular stills in the market. This traditional and simple still features a boiler or big pot to heat the wash, a tube to transfer the vapor and a cooling unit to turn the vapor back into a liquid.

How do you make moonshine more potent? ›

The hot vapor distills the alcohol a second time, which results in a higher-proof moonshine. If a moonshiner wants to make their alcohol extra potent, they might “charge” the thump keg by adding undistilled mash or a few gallons of alcohol so the steam picks up extra alcohol vapor on its way to the worm box.

What makes moonshine taste better? ›

If you want to get more of the earthy taste of moonshine in your co*cktail, try pairing it with ginger ale (not ginger beer). Sweet ginger ale can make moonshine go down smoother and is a good starting point for those new to drinking moonshine.

Why do you put glycerin in moonshine? ›

Why is glycerine used in distilling spirits? Glycerine is used to smooth and mellow spirits and add some modest body. If you think your distillate is a little sharp or has a bit too much of that 'alcohol burn,' adding a few drops of glycerine can reduce the harshness, add mellowness and improve mouthfeel.

How do you make a simple still at home? ›

To create a still, you need 4 essential components: a kettle, a heat source, a condenser, and a collecting vessel. That is it! That is all you need to build the simplest distillation system. Let us break it down for you to see what each item is and how methodically it functions.

How much mash do I need for a 10 gallon still? ›

Weigh out your grains in a 2 to 1 ratio. For the 10 gallon batch, this will be 6 lbs of corn and 3 lbs of sweet feed.

What does a thump keg do on a moonshine still? ›

thump keg (also thump barrel, thump chest) noun A second condenser added to a whiskey still between the cooker and the coil, eliminating the need to run liquor through a second time to strengthen it.

How much moonshine can you get from a 10 gallon still? ›

So for example: A 10 gallon still filled with your wash that is 10% ABV will yield you about 1 gallon of shine. If your ABV is 15% it will be 1.5 gallons. No matter what still you put it in to extract the alcohol out during the distilling process, you can't argue with the math.

How much yield from a 5 gallon still? ›

A 5-gallon still typically yields 1-2 gallons of alcohol, but the final amount depends on the starting alcohol, fermentable sugar and yeast quality.

How much mash can you put in a 5 gallon still? ›

Re: How much mash for a 5 gallon still

2.25 pounds grain per gallon. 20.25 pounds of grain, coarse ground. 9 gallon total mash volume. Ferment on grain & squeeze out when done.

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