When making beer or a whiskey mash, a brewing hydrometer is used by the brewer or distiller to measure either alcohol content or the potential alcohol content. This is done by by taking a specific gravity reading, which is essentially a measure of liquid density, before and after fermentation, then comparing the results. When distilling, a proofing hydrometer also called a spirit hydrometer is used by distillers to measure final alcohol content, which also indicates density, but only involves a single measurement.
The biggest difference between proofing and brewing hydrometers is the scale. This article focuses on proofing hydrometers, which is the type of hydrometer a commercial distiller would use with a parrot to measure the proof of alcohol that has been distilled.
For information on brewing hydrometers, check out our article titled, " How to Use a Hydrometer. The point at which the liquid meets the scale on the side of the hydrometer indicates proof. The most common way commercial distillers measure the proof of distillate is by using a proofing hydrometer and a copper parrot. A proofing hydrometer is a very easy tool to use. A distilling hydrometer is placed into the parrot and the parrot is placed near the output of the still so that distillate from the still discharges into the parrot input see illustration.
Alcohol in moonshine and other intoxicating drinks comes from fruits or grains that are fermented — that is, they are exposed to yeasts or bacteria that convert sugar molecules to carbon dioxide and alcohol. Ingredients for moonshine vary widely depending on what's available.
In the early 20th century, American moonshiners typically made their brews from corn mash; in fact, legal versions of traditional American moonshine are commercially produced today by craft distilleries in the United States. If you can tease sugar out of something, you're on your way to making a drink," Kosar told Live Science. Fermentation produces two forms of alcohol: ethanol and methanol , which is also known as wood alcohol. Methanol is released from pectin, and is therefore more abundant in fermented fruit, according to research published by the American Chemical Society.
Though ethanol is generally considered safe for drinking, both ethanol and methanol suppress the central nervous system and inhibit brain function. Consuming too much alcohol — even the "safe" kind — can cause alcohol poisoning, affecting heart rate and breathing and even leading to coma and death, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Methanol is far more dangerous than ethanol, said Anne Andrews, a professor of psychiatry, chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Take a look at our answers below:. Most experts agree that moonshine is a homemade, unaged whiskey. This may be surprising due to the clear color, but the distilling process and ingredients used are clear signs that it is a whiskey.
Yes, there are some commercial moonshines available to buy. However, moonshine purists do not consider these drinks to be "real" moonshine as the alcohol content is lower and they aren't necessarily distilled in the exact same manner.
Moonshine is a classic American beverage steeped in mystery. Whether you're distilling your own or buying moonshine, there's a wide variety of options at your disposal. That's why we recommend having an inventory management system in place, like BinWise Pro. BinWise Pro is an all-in-one inventory management system that helps you manage your wine program more effectively and successfully.
The system will alert you when a bottle is about to pass its drink-by date so you never waste your inventory again. Contact us to learn more about BinWise Pro and how it can help your bar. The content of this article is for educational purposes only and BinWise does not advocate for the illegal distilling of moonshine or any other alcoholic beverages. Book a Demo. Table of Contents. What Is Moonshine Made From? Moonshine Flavors Since moonshine can be created using nearly any grain or fruit, the flavors can be just as varied.
The amount of alcohol in moonshine differs depending on the distillation process, but in the United States, moonshine can't legally be distilled to more than 80 percent ABV, and can't be bottled at more than For more understanding of how moonshine got such a dangerous reputation, it might help to have a little bit of background knowledge about this historical hooch. Moonshine was a term once used for any liquor that was made illegally, but nowadays it usually refers to a specific spirit, also known as white whiskey or corn whiskey.
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