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How to Make Apple Pie Moonshine
So, you want to know how to make apple pie moonshine, eh? You've come to the right place. Apple pie shine is probably the most popular and sought after type of bootleg whiskey ever made, and for good reason - it's delicious. Here is our favorite (high octane) apple pie moonshine recipe.You can use any type of high proof alcohol you want to make these recipes. We used store bought moonshine from the Ole Smoky distillery.
What is Apple Pie Moonshine?
Simply put apple pie moonshine is moonshine that has the same flavors of an actual apple pie. Think cinnamon, clove, nutmeg. As we see it, there are 4 different types of apple pie moonshine:
- Super Easy Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe
- No Boil Apple Pie Shine
- Gourmet Apple Pie Moonshine (our favorite)
- Hot Apple Pie Moonshine
These will varying in taste, color, as well as temperature. Here's each type, along with a brief description, list of ingredients, and recipe directions.
Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe Ingredients
- 1 quart of 150 proof, pure corn whiskey moonshine (everclear could be used as a substitute).
- 3 cans of frozen apple concentrate.
- 8 cinnamon sticks.
- 0-2 cups brown sugar*.
Super Easy Apple Pie Moonshine
This recipe is called "instant" because it takes less than 30 minutes to make. This version of apple pie moonshine is the quickest to make, but it will have more bitterness and will lack a depth of flavor compared to the other options.
First, add the apple concentrate, cinnamon sticks and brown sugar to a pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer on very low heat, covered, for 20-30 minutes. Stir a few times as it is heating up to dissolve the sugar. Heating causes the cinnamon sticks to release their flavor very quickly, allowing you to be able to drink it immediately. I like to call this the "instant satisfaction" method.
After simmering, remove the pot from heat and let it cool. Make sure it is completely cool, and none of the burners on the stove are on before moving on to the next step.
After the mixture has cooled, split it between 4 pint jars (or 2 quart jars). Top the jars off with 150 proof corn whiskey. Remember, 100+ proof moonshine is flammable. You do not want to do this anywhere near a heat source.
If you completed all of the steps, congratulations, you just made your very own apple pie moonshine. You can start enjoying the fruits of your labor immediately.
The “No-Boil” Apple Pie Moonshine
This method of making apple pie moonshine is extremely simple and does not require any cooking. This recipe does require at least 12 hours but we recommend letting it steep for up to 48 hours for best results. This apple pie moonshine recipe does take more more time to make but the flavors are worth the wait.If you want to make a truly supreme batch of apple pie shine, you'll want to use something similar to this method.
The "instant satisfaction" method listed above causes flavor to be rapidly released from cinnamon sticks, making your batch instantly drinkable. However, "steeping" the ingredients overnight, without boiling, produces a better product. Why? Well, we aren't exactly sure, but we think that boiling the cinnamon sticks cause additional flavors to be released, making the final product ever so slightly bitter.
The "no boil" method provides 100% of the flavor with none of the bitterness. Beware, this recipe is high proof. A lot of recipes call for adding a gallon apple this and a gallon of apple that, but by the time you're done adding all that liquid, you've dropped your proof down into the baby formula range. Apple concentrate provides apple flavor without compromising proof. This stuff sneaks up on you - and then it punches you in the face! But it's oh, so good.
Gourmet Apple Pie Moonshine
The gourmet apple pie moonshine recipe is easy to make and requires no fancy equipment. In our opinion it tastes better than any store bought bottle. This recipe uses the same base ingredients as the "no boil" method, but the addition of spices turns a basic apple pie moonshine into something amazing.
The above mentioned recipe (cinnamon, sugar, and apple juice concentrate only) will make a great batch of apple pie moonshine. However, add spices like ginger, orange peel, cloves, allspice, vanilla bean, peppercorn, etc... and you'll have something that will make your tastebuds do backflips.
There are plenty of recipes on the web for more complicated versions of apple pie moonshine. Some of them are great, others are OK, but most are sorely lacking. We know this firsthand here at Clawhammer Supply, because we've tried a lot of them out. We did this because we've been working on a top secret project for a while now - the creation of a perfect blend of apple pie moonshine spices.
After making many, many test batches, and drinking a lot, lot, lot of apple pie moonshine, we finally landed on a recipe that we're 100% sure will melt your tastebuds into a puddle of awesomeness. We proudly present to you our very own apple pie moonshine spice mix.
Hot Apple Pie Moonshine
Not many people drink hot moonshine but it is delicious and underrated. This style of moonshine is best served during the winter months when the days are short and the nights are long and cold.
If you would like to serve up some hot apple pie moonshine, here's what we would suggest. Use the recipe above to make standard apple pie moonshine. Then, buy a couple of gallons of apple cider and spice it to taste using the same ingredients above. Heat it in a crock pot WITHOUT the apple pie moonshine. (You don't want to add the moonshine because you'll vaporize all of the alcohol if you heat it over a long period of time.) Just set the jar of apple pie moonshine next to the crock pot and let your guests add a bit (or a lot) to each cup of cider they pour.
We hope you enjoy this post on how to make apple pie moonshine. This is how we like it, but we'd also love to hear your thoughts. Let us know your opinion on this recipe, or share your own apple pie moonshine recipe below.
I had some of this at a race late fall and it was great.
Can’t wait to try this I love the apple pie shine it’s my fav. thanks for the info
Looks good. do you sell test kits too?
how can I order a gallon of moonshine
Could you tell me please where do you get apple concentrate?
You can get it at most health food stores. As an alternative, I’ve also used a half can of frozen apple juice concentrate (in grocery freezer aisle) per quart of liquor.
You could try the frozen stuff in the grocery or look for McCormick’s flavorings.
…I might add, if you’re like me and want it to sit a spell, after about two weeks you wanna pull out the cinnamon sticks or that will be the predominant flavor… …I like to add 6 clove and a small chunk of Allspice as well as a bit of Star of Anise.
…and let it sit bout three weeks… …then let the party begin.
Sounds delicious. Where would I get the apple concentrate?
Where can you get apple concentrate??
thanks
Dave