How Moonshine is Made

We get a ton of questions here at Old Tennessee Distilling Co. Is moonshine legal? What proof is the moonshine? How do you make Watermelon Falls taste like watermelons? But one of the most common questions we get is how we make moonshine. Well, wonder no more because we’re here to tell you! We can’t reveal all our secrets, but we can share a few. 

The recipe for moonshine is honestly straightforward: corn, sugar, yeast, and water, but we also have one key secret ingredient – the pride we put into perfecting this great, time-honored tradition. Made on-site by master distillers, Old Tennessee’s farm-to-bottle products are handmade and homegrown from the bounties of local fields. We know how to respect the past while living for the moment. And remember, even though we’re telling you some of the trade secrets, it is against the law to distill alcohol without a federal or state distilled spirit plant permit. All this means is please don’t try this at home. 

Step 1 – Making Mash

Heat water and add corn. Stir and allow it to sit until the temperature falls. Add malted barley and allow it to sit. Remove the grains, pasteurize, cool and transfer to a fermentation bucket and add yeast. Then it ferments for 7-10 days. Then we add sugar. 

Step 2 – Distilling

Remember, folks, this part is still illegal without the proper permits. Now we eat a mixture of alcohol and water to a specific range. Why? Because ethanol boils at 174 and water at 212. 

Step 3 – Flavor

Now we put that unique Old Tennessee spin on things, but that’s our little secret. 

So there you have it! That’s how we make moonshine. Now comes the fun part: tasting it. Swing by our distillery, try a few samples or a cocktail, and let us know your favorite flavor!