6 myths about moonshine, which I advise against believing

If you divide the word into two parts - itself and gon, then the meaning immediately becomes clear. It is an alcoholic beverage that is distilled on its own using the mash distillation process. Moonshine was brewed in Russia as early as the 15th century. Of course, the apparatus for distilling mash was primitive, and the drink itself was not as refined as it is today.

Over the long years of popularity, this drink, which in Belarus is called gorilka, in Ukraine vodka, in Bulgaria brandy, has acquired many myths, which I will try to debunk today. Indeed, in fact, moonshine is not so bad as any alcohol, if you know the norm.

Moonshine is an invention of the Russian people

For some reason, it is generally accepted that moonshine was invented in Russia. But this is not the case. The first transparent laughing liquid was obtained in ancient China by evaporation of wine as early as 4-5 centuries AD. e. Alchemist Ge Hong wrote about this in his treatise.

Moonshine stills, very similar to modern equipment, were invented by the ancient Greeks. And the moonshine itself, alcohol, the same as today, was received by the Arabs. They also knew how to separate "tails and heads".

Europe learned about moonshine in the Middle Ages, when people were able to travel long distances. And only then they learned the ability to cook strong drinks from home brew in Russia.

Cloudy liquid has an unpleasant odor

It should be noted that whiskey, cognac, tequila and other drinks are actually the same moonshine. The difference is in the raw material for the mash and aging in oak barrels. Even at home, you can make such elite drinks.

Turbid and odorless moonshine is obtained only in case of disruption of the distillation process and the use of low-quality raw materials for mash. Subject to the technology and appropriate cleaning, you will get a strong drink of crystal transparency. I myself do not make moonshine, but when I visit I prefer it to store vodka.

Expensive drinks from the store are better

Once on New Year's Eve, I was visiting my aunt. She treated me to delicious cognac. As it turned out later, she cooked it on her own three years ago. First, she drove the moonshine out, then poured it into an oak barrel and let the moonshine "brew".

The same thing, only in an industrial environment, is done by winemakers. Only the cost of such alcohol is much more expensive than homemade alcohol. Moreover, dyes are added to factory drinks!

Moonshine is a surrogate

A surrogate is a product of low quality that is used to replace the original. Today, the stores are really full of surrogate products that are harmful to human health. Including surrogate vodka, made of God knows what, with which people are poisoned.

As for moonshine, I can say with confidence that it is simply impossible to name it as a substitute. I saw my mom start the base for moonshine. All mash products are natural. Since alcohol is produced for oneself, nothing harmful is added to it.

When distilling mash at home, you really get strong alcohol. And the officials called the drink a surrogate, in my opinion, because the people who drive it do not buy vodka in the store, do not pay officials.

Moonshine is a drink of the lower strata of society

I do not agree with this myth at all. Today, even the coolest businessmen use moonshine stills to obtain a healthy and safe liquid. After all, mash is prepared from good products, before serving, the moonshine is thoroughly cleaned of impurities.

In one of the history books, I read that distilling was considered the occupation of aristocrats. After all, Sheremetyev, Kurakin, Catherine II needed a high-quality alcoholic drink for the balls. Therefore, they drove out moonshine. European rulers did not disdain such drinks either.

My friends have a good store-bought moonshine, so their moonshine is a clean, odorless tear.

Best to drink Pervach

I disagree with this myth. I specifically asked a friend what Pervach was. He explained to me that this is a special fraction of distillation, it turns out moonshine of high strength. But there is one drawback - the drink contains methyl alcohol. It is hazardous to health.

My friends distilled the resulting moonshine again to get rid of harmful substances. Then they cleanse the alcoholic beverage. But no matter how attentively I didn’t listen to my acquaintance, I didn’t understand what he calls “tails, head, heart”.

In my opinion, brewing moonshine is the first thing. You also need to drink it wisely, then you can forget about the headache in the morning. I think I was able to convince the myths about moonshine are untenable.

Have you ever brewed moonshine?