Does Moonshine Go Bad?
Does moonshine go bad? If you are not sure about this, I urge you to go through this blog post carefully as it contains all the details.
Many a time we have found ourselves in a situation when, finding an alcohol bottle hidden in the kitchen cabinet, we start contemplating whether it’s safe to consume. For this particular bottle, which is moonshine, there isn’t even a standard time frame for this illegal beverage.
While different sources may differ on the subject however the truth about the question of whether moonshine will go bad or not is obvious. an unflavored bottle of moonshine as with other plain spirits, comes with an unending shelf life. A moonshine bottle that is flavored will likely have a shorter shelf-life however.
If you’re looking to ensure that you are able to be sure to drink the bottle of moonshine which has been sitting in the back of your cupboard for what seems like a long time this is all you should be aware of about moonshine!
What is the shelf-life of moonshine?
Most moonshine bottles have a shelf-life that is indefinite and, therefore, in the majority of cases you won’t need to be concerned regarding the quality or any health risk when you come across an unopened bottle of moonshine which has stored in your pantry for years.
If the moonshine bottle was opened, the shelf life would be shorter by six months.
The reason that the moonshine bottle that is not opened will last for long is due to the process of distillation. In contrast to many alcohols, moonshine distills without sugars, meaning that the liquor will not spoil. Sugar-based products have the potential to last for a shorter time and that’s why moonshine that has added flavors, or any other spirits with added flavors in general, will spoil in the event that it is stored for longer duration.
Be aware that not all moonshine is produced and distilled the same manner. The process of making moonshine can be an arduous and complex process due to the legality of the drink. So, unless you’ve created the moonshine on your own, chances are that you’re drinking a moonshine that’s not 100% pure.
Commercial moonshine usually comes flavored with sugars added to it which can lead to a shortening of the lifespan. When unopened, the moonshine is supposed to last for a long time but considering safety and quality of the drink, you are advised to consume it as quickly as possible.
How To Tell If Moonshine is Bad?
If you’re worried that an open (or not yet opened) container of moonshine has turned bad, here are some warning signs to look for.
The most obvious sign that your moonshine has gone off is the flavor. It’s not going to cause you any harm to crack open the bottle of moonshine and take one sip. You’ll know when it’s off as the flavor will be unpleasant. A sip of moonshine to determine whether it’s gone bad will only be a safe thing if the moonshine was stored, sealed and distilled in a proper manner.
Remember this: if moonshine was been stored without a lid and consequently was exposed to air, this could alter the flavor of the moonshine. However, this doesn’t necessarily indicate that it’s deteriorated.
If you do notice that the color of the moonshine appears different from normal don’t consume it. If you are unsure, be sure to pass the test of the spoon. The test for the spoon works like this Pour some moonshine into the spoon and then set it on fire.
A blue flame indicates that the moonshine is safe to drink. A yellow or red flame signifies that the moonshine has lead, meaning it’s not safe to drink.
Is it unsafe to consume bad moonshine?
There’s a reason moonshine is illegal: the process of distilling moonshine could be contaminated with deadly metal particles. Even if moonshine is a product with an unending shelf life it’s impossible to tell whether a specific bottle will be fatal or not.
If you’re just beginning to learn about moonshine, you need to know two chemical substances you should know about: ethanol and methanol.
Methanol
Methanol is a colorless alcohol substance, which is the simplest alcohol available. Even in the smallest dosages, methanol is extremely dangerous and could be fatal when mixed with ethanol.
Ethanol
Ethanol is, on contrary is a basic alcohol which is safe for you to consume in small quantities. If you consume excessive amounts of ethanol it could be hazardous which can cause stomach cramps for instance. This is the reason why ethanol should be consumed in smaller amounts for example, with an mixer or in shot.
If you are making a quality moonshine batch it should not contain trace of Methanol. In a bad batch moonshine, there are trace amounts of methanol, making the harmless alcohol toxic.
What is the purpose of methanol?
After consumption in a methanol-based beverage, it breaks into formaldehyde, formate, as well as formic acids. In the most straightforward of terms it is possible that methanol causes permanent blindness because it targets the optic nerve. This is usually the case after consumption, however, it could also happen in the distillation process.
In the most extreme situations, methanol may cause death. This is because it’s difficult to determine if the liquid is methanol-containing or not, as Methanol is not flavoring.
The potential danger of methanol contained in moonshine is for its being illegal. If you plan to purchase an ounce of moonshine it should be purchased from an experienced and reliable dealer who has completed the correct process of distillation.
Can moonshine expire?
The good thing is that moonshine generally isn’t a thing that expires. However, there are some factors that can affect the quality of the moonshine you purchase.
Moonshine is also referred to as whiskey that is clear and unaged. There are two primary varieties of moonshine. They can be normal or flavored. Moonshine of these two main types can’t be kept for the same amount of time.
Does moonshine improve with age?
Certain alcohol-based drinks like wine are able to improve when matured for a couple of years. Moonshiners are often concerned that their spirits could also get better when kept for a long period of time.
Wine and other alcohol-based beverages can be stored inside wooden barrels and they will absorb a bit of the flavor and essence that the wood provides. The characteristics of flavor in the wood will alter the taste of liquor over time.
Since moonshine is stored inside glass jars, not wooden barrels, it’s unlikely to alter significantly in taste. Actually, the oxidation process of open moonshine could alter the flavor, and if your moonshine gets exposed to sunlight at storage, the product could turn out to be of extremely bad taste.
The moonshine you’ve purchased isn’t likely to improve when it’s stored on the shelf. This means it’s best to enjoy it while drinking.
How to store moonshine?
As with all spirits it’s not advised to drink a full bottle of moonshine all by yourself that’s why you should know how to properly store it so that you can drink it later on safely.
If you’re wondering if moonshine needs to be refrigerated there’s no wrong answer. Certain people like refrigerating their moonshine in order to keep the alcohol cool and out of sunlight, however there is no proof that suggests that moonshine that is not refrigerated is good for your health.
But this is only applicable to moonshine that is pure, since the bottle that has been opened and moonshine that has a flavor is required to be chilled to prolong its shelf time. This is due to the fact that the coldness in the fridge slows the process of oxidation and delays the degradation of the sugars contained in the moonshine that is flavored.
Be aware that this is only applicable to bottles that are opened and moonshine that are flavored, as unopened bottles of moonshine flavored with flavor will last for years, regardless of whether it’s stored in a refrigerator or not.
When it comes to what you should keep it in it doesn’t matter if you put it in glass or plastic. Moonshine will not be able to burn through plastic unless an open flame is in the vicinity. If you want to store it long-term it is best to use glass containers.
It’s best to keep it away from direct sunlight. The UV rays can penetrate the bottle (whether it’s glass or plastic) and will ultimately “cook” the moonshine and decrease its shelf-life significantly. This is the reason why most people keep their moonshine at an in the rear of a cool, dark cabinet.
What about moonshine in the heat?
This is why moonshine shouldn’t get exposed to sun’s direct rays. But what happens to temperatures?
If it is sealed in a proper manner, it shouldn’t be a problem what temperature the space it’s stored in.
The wine won’t spoil according to the conventional sense. However the taste of the moonshine is affected. The reason is that the heat causes the moonshine’s chemicals to form a new arrangement that results in a change in the flavor.
This shouldn’t be a problem for those who do not care about the flavor of moonshine. If you are it is necessary to keep moonshine in a cool and dark place. A cellar for wine or a an area that is cool and cool is the best choice for this.
Can I freeze moonshine?
So, we’re aware moonshine’s taste changes with the hot weather, but what happens in the cold?
Moonshine has an ABV content of about 40%. This implies that it requires a cold, extremely cold location to be able to freeze. A normal freezer is unlikely to suffice, since moonshine needs a temperature of -235°F to completely freeze.
However, even if it does freeze it’s likely to happen that water of the moonshine will be frozen before the alcohol and will make the moonshine stronger with an increased ABV content.
Does flavored moonshine go bad?
Pure moonshine is a spirit with an unending shelf life but flavored moonshines have significantly shorter shelf-life. Pure moonshine, as with other spirits that are pure, is distillated for such a long time that it has the least amount of sugar which means it will not be easily spoiled.
Flavored moonshine, on other hand, is dependent on sugar to flavor it and this means that it will get spoiled eventually. The sugar content may be derived from artificial sweeteners, or from fruits.
What about moonshine mixed with fruits?
Moonshine infused with fruit has an extremely shorter shelf life as pure moonshine. If stored properly and not opened it could last for many years. If the container is opened, shelf life will be reduced to about 3-6 months when stored in the refrigerator. Many people do not think that sugar is a major component present in fruit, which is increased during distillation.
The reason that moonshine mixed with fruit turns rapidly bad is due to evaporate. After the bottle or container is opened (or when it’s been cleaned) and exposed to air causes the alcohol to slowly evaporate. It may take a few hours however the effects will become apparent over the course of several years, at which point the contents will simply disappear.
The process of evaporation will only speed up when the moonshine with a flavor is exposed to light and heat that will reduce the alcohol content, and also weaken the flavor.
Air exposure can also lead to the process of oxidation. Oxidation is an enzymatic reaction which alters the atomic composition of moonshine. This can cause the flavor of moonshine to be slightly sour. It also reduces its shelf time.
Wrapping up
Does Moonshine Go Bad?
So, does moonshine go bad? I have already given that answer for you. That’s it. If you’ve kept the bottle of moonshine pure properly and bought it from a trusted retailer, the shelf-life of the liquor is unaffected.
When you keep your moonshine with a flavor, its shelf life is about 2 to 3 years. After opening the moonshine with a flavor, its shelf life decreases to about 3 months because of the amount of sugar in the product and air exposure.
Moonshine’s world is a tangled and confusing one. For one thing, it is difficult to discern whether the moonshine bottle is harmful or if it is not. However, certain folks may be tempted to put their health at risk to determine if the alcohol is safe to consume.
The importance of purchasing moonshine and drinking it from a reliable dealer can’t be overemphasized. It needs to be sealed, distilled and proofed and stored in a safe manner to reduce the chance of it becoming stale. In addition, it is difficult to determine if the moonshine has methanol as well, and this can cause blindness, or even death.
There are a lot of dangers to be aware of when drinking moonshine. Make sure you follow the rules for preserving empty and unopened bottles of moonshine.