Moonshine is a Southerner's delight, and its roots date back to the founding of America. While the best white lightning is without a doubt brewed deep in the heart of Appalachia by real moonshiners and is a Smoky Mountains specialty, you can create your own spin on it at home with some simple moonshine recipes. The best moonshine comes from the heart, after all. Ditch the margarita and come over to the dark side.
Videos by Wide Open Country
Speaking of dark places, distilling homemade moonshine is a tricky business, and most states require a liquor distilling permit before you set up stills. We aren't telling you what you should or shouldn't do with your free time, but just know that if you set up a distillery at home without a permit, you're playing with fire. It's easy to ferment carbohydrates and equally easy to set up a moonshine still, but it's also easy to get in trouble with the law or start a fire. We think it's equally easy to run down to the liquor store to grab some moonshine for that apple pie moonshine recipe you've been craving, and with a lot less risk involved.
What we are going to share with you is how to create excellent infused or flavored moonshine, no distillation required. Most of these DIY moonshines get better the longer they sit, and they're perfect for giving as gifts, too.
Moonshine Infusion Essentials
So what will you need before tackling these infusion recipes? Well, a large pot is a component in these recipes, as is a large saucepan. Mason jars are a must-have for storing, and you might need some cheesecloth to strain out solids. Skip the fermentation bucket and gallons of mash. We're going to assume you have moonshine on hand already. Also, Everclear works as an equivalent substitute, though I know some Southerners who'd slap me for suggesting that "corn trash."
How To Store Moonsine
You may think moonshine can last forever—and other the right circumstances, it certainly can—but don't be lulled into a false sense of safety when whipping up your favorite flavor of moonshine. First and foremost, always store your moonshine in a glass bottle. Glass will help to prevent spoilage will making sure no other flavors leech into your drink. If keeping sealed, store your drinks in a cool location far away from direct sunlight, somewhere like a pantry or (better yet) a basement. And once you've popped the top on a glass bottle, be sure to refrigerate your moonshine to keep the infusion from turning off.
These 15 moonshine recipes can help guide your way into the world of high-proof grain alcohol.
1. Apple Pie Moonshine
Lyndsay Cordell
How could I even start a moonshine recipe list without including everyone's favorite Apple Pie Moonshine? Apple cider, cinnamon sticks, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and nutmeg combine to form a deliciously potent drink that tastes just like apple juice.
Ready to make your own version of this old-timer recipe? Here's a video tutorial!
Find the full recipe here.
2. Caramel Apple Pie Moonshine
The addition of caramel vodka to this moonshine recipe brings a depth of flavor that tastes like you submerged a Werther's Original caramel. A big batch recipe at heart, you can play around with ratios to perfect your own drink!
Find the full recipe here.
3. Cherry Pie Moonshine Recipe
Lyndsay Cordell
Cherry pie is Americana, nothing feels more summertime in the U.S.A. than spitting out cherry pits at the baseball field. This moonshine recipe turns a brilliant red color and makes it a delicious Fourth of July cocktail recipe. Add a dash of lemon juice to bring out the sweetness of the cane sugar in the Cherry Simple Syrup recipe.
Find the full recipe here and get your stockpot ready.
4. Dreamsicle Moonshine
Lyndsay Cordell
Right out of a Pinterest spread, this Dreamsicle Moonshine is a delectable mix of white sugar, orange juice, and French Vanilla coffee creamer (trust us). Why pull out the distiller's yeast and pot stills when you can just combine all the ingredients together to create the perfect Dreamsicle pie moonshine recipe?
Find the recipe here.
5. Green Apple Moonshine
Lyndsay Burginger
The sugar in this recipe is replaced by using Green Apple Jolly Ranchers that bring to the table the apple flavoring and the tart tang synonymous with green apple flavors. Simply melt them down over low heat and you've got the base of your moonshine flavor. Want a video tutorial on how this recipe works?
Find the full recipe and directions here. Remember, this pairs nicely with Mountain Dew, as odd as it sounds.
6. Jalapeño Peach Moonshine
With a jalapeño simple syrup at the heart of this recipe, you won't believe just how deliciously sweet and tart the full sip is when it infuses with the peach moonshine. If you have plain moonshine on hand, simply slice and dice the peaches for the final infusion as opposed to using the flavored varieties.
Find the full recipe here.
7. Key Lime Moonshine Recipe
Sure, it might not smell pretty when you combine all of the ingredients into a jar, what with the moonshine and key limes giving off their own potent scents. However, when you uncap the jar two weeks later, you won't believe just how well the flavors infuse together. Be careful with this kind or else you'll end up in Kokomo with no idea how to get home.
Find the recipe here.
8. Lemon Drop Moonshine
Wide Open Eats
While making actual lemon moonshine would require a more sour mash and a sweet feed, this recipe uses a lemon simple syrup cooled to room temperature to flavor the 190 proof Everclear or moonshine. We turned our Lemon Drop Moonshine into an Arnold Palmer. Check out the video tutorial.
Find the full recipe and instructions here.
9. Peach Cobbler Moonshine Recipe
Wide Open Eats
Sure, this tastes the most delicious when you can use fresh peaches in August, or you could use frozen peaches instead. In that case, you would add less water since the frozen peaches will release their own liquid to soften the syrup base. Nothing tastes better than this Peach Simple Syrup you might want to drink right from the little cap because it tastes just like a cobbler.
Find the full recipe here.
10. Peppermint Moonshine Recipe
Wide Open Eats
A winter classic, Peppermint Moonshine uses the sweet power of candy canes to create the Peppermint Simple Syrup. The alcohol content of this Peppermint Moonshine is definitely high, so be sure to pair this cooling drink with a mixer. Why go out for a spirit run when you constantly have this moonshine infusion in your pantry ready to go for a nightcap? Check out our video tutorial.
Find the full recipe here.
11. Pumpkin Spice Moonshine
Straight outta Gatlinburg, Tennessee comes this Pumpkin Spice Moonshine recipe that is perfect for autumn days and Thanksgiving in particular. Dark brown sugar gives this recipe its blue-ribbon flavor. This would also work well with the smoothest whiskey for a great-tasting whiskey cocktail minus the moonshine. Want to see us make it? Sure!
Find the full recipe here.
12. Raspberry Moonshine Recipe
Wide Open Eats
Why get out the stainless steel machinery when you can create simple tart raspberry syrup that'll add so much flavor to pre-made moonshine? Making your own simple syrup is as close to free moonshine recipes as you'll get. This tart recipe can also be swapped with a blackberry flavor, or simply add blackberries to the final cocktail version.
Find the full recipe here.
13. Strawberry Rhubarb Moonshine
Wide Open Eats
Capture the flavors of springtime with this Strawberry Rhubarb Moonshine that hardly needs a mixer. The more fresh fruit you add to the final cocktail, the better because you can casually snack on it as you drink. Why bother with all the corn meal, malted barley, corn whiskey, bread yeast, and malted grain mess when you can just whip up a simple syrup for infusing?
Find the full recipe here.
14. Sweet Tea Moonshine Recipe
While you could just add sweet tea to regular ol' moonshine in your glass as is, this Sweet Tea Simple Syrup is actually incredible. You can use whatever tea you prefer, although Lipton is one of our favorite options because the mild flavor infuses nicely with the moonshine. Additionally, this could become a whiskey moonshine recipe and would pair nicely with our Lemon Drop Moonshine above if you dare.
Either way, find the recipe here.
15. Watermelon Lime Moonshine
Wide Open Eats
Nothing says happy days quite like watermelon, and this Watermelon Lime Moonshine makes such a lovely little color, it just squeals joy. The tart Lime Simple Syrup works so well with the watermelon in the infusing process, it's a wonder this isn't more popular.
Find this sweet-tart recipe here.
Want one more tip before you try to make some yourself? Feel free to play around with the simple syrup plus the fruit combinations we've presented. A Watermelon-Peach Moonshine would be just as delicious, as would a combined Sweet Tea-Lemon Moonshine.
Use your imagination! If you ever have any questions on our recipes, reach out to us on our social channels. We're here to help you!
Products featured on Wide Open Country are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
