When looking for strong booze, vodka vs moonshine always top the list. Both offer the strength of firewater that can topple you over after a couple of shots. Moonshine offers sweetness and variety, while vodka’s strength is smoothness. But which of the two is better?
Our team of experts dug deeper and found out the interesting answer.
Contents
Vodka & Moonshine Compared
While vodka is legal in most countries, moonshine is a term that describes distilled spirits with extremely high proof that aren’t legally accepted in most states.
Based on their alcohol content, moonshine is stronger than vodka because it has higher alcohol-proof. Moonshine’s alcohol level can be as high as 190 proof. On the contrary, vodka only has an average of 80 proof.
A Closer Look At Their Differences
History & Origin
Some people claim that vodka originated in either Poland or Russia as early as the 8th or 9th century. In the later years, the production of this alcoholic liquor used grain neutral, rye, wheat, and potatoes. They imported alcohol from Genoa in the beginning.
On the other hand, traditional moonshine already existed in the 15th Century in England. On the other hand, traditional moonshine can be traced to Pennsylvania despite being deeply rooted in Southern culture and heritage.
Moonshine was born right after the Whiskey Rebellion. It was initially made from rye, wheat, or other grain before shifting to corn-base.
Alcohol Content
These bottled spirits are both strong, unaged drinks. Moonshine contains the highest alcohol content that reaches over 95% ABV. They mostly bottle moonshine at 125 proof.
Meanwhile, the standard ABV range of vodka is from 40% to 60%. Manufacturers distill this rectified spirit at least three times before filtering it. After distillation [1], it is bottled and ready to drink or sell.
Ingredients
Vodka is a distilled neutral grain spirit from potatoes, grains, grapes, and other fruits. Similar to other spirits, it passes germination. And then, manufacturers ferment the components before they proceed to distillation.
The difference with moonshine is it’s from a mash of corn and grains. These distilled spirits are practically unaged whiskey. It makes these drinks flavorful yet strong.
Taste & Flavor Profile
Another difference between moonshine and vodka is their flavor profile. Moonshine is more flavorful than vodka because it is sweeter, coming from corn mash. It’s a more potent whiskey in a mason jar. But, what does the label XXX on a moonshine jug mean?
On the other hand, vodka is made from grapes, potatoes, rye, wheat, and sugar beets. It is distilled and filtered a lot of times to increase alcohol. Drinking this alcohol, you’ll notice that some of its real savors have disappeared. However, some varieties are infused with additives to optimize their taste and viscosity.
The difference between vodka and moonshine prices from other liquors sold in the market is somehow far. A bottle of vodka at 750 ml is roughly $11.99 to $35.
On the other hand, moonshine is priced at around $40 per gallon. If we do the math, each gallon contains over 4 liters. It means that the difference between the price of moonshine and vodka is over $10, on average.
Moonshine can be mixed with vodka because both are clear spirits. The difference between moonshine vs vodka is not so much with savor. Though moonshine and vodka have different ingredients, both underwent an almost similar distillation process.
Once mixed with other ingredients, moonshine and vodka will produce an even more potent beverage/drink. Drinking alcohol this strong could pose a danger, so be wary.
Yes, you can distill vodka into moonshine at home. You simply have to choose what mash you will be making the drink from. However, an important thing to remember is that it is not legal to concoct moonshine and vodka in most states.
Does moonshine taste like vodka?
No, moonshine does not taste like vodka. Moonshine uses a corn base mixed with other grains to enhance savor. These clear spirits will remind you more of whiskey than any other spirit. On the other hand, vodka is colorless, odorless, and tasteless unless flavored. Try your hand at our peach moonshine mash recipe here.
Final Verdict
In the battle between moonshine vs vodka, vodka emerges as the winner. It’s easier to find in a liquor store and is more affordable. These drinks are legal not just in the US but around the world.
On the other hand, moonshine has gained popularity, mainly because of its alcohol strength. That is why establishing vodka as a strong winner is not that definitive.
Many choose to pick this whiskey-like beverage because it provides taste and kicks. But regardless of price and strength, the person who orders the bottle will still decide in the end.
Lydia Martin hails from Redmond, Washington, where you’ll find some of the best co*cktail bars and distilleries that offer a great mix of local drinks. She used to work as a bar manager in Paris and is a self-taught mixologist whose passion for crafting unique co*cktails led her to create Liquor Laboratory. Lydia can whip up a mean Margarita in seconds! Contact at [emailprotected] or learn more about us here.
Moonshine is made from a mash that is also used to make whiskey usually it is primarily corn and other grains. Vodka on the other hand must be made from Grain Neutral (wheat, potatoes, grapes and the like). Moonshine like Vodka is not aged but bottled directly from the still and is usually bottled at around 125 proof.
They are both very high in alcohol percentage although historically Moonshine is an extremely powerful beverage. Vodka typically falls in the range of 80 to 100 Proof (40 to 50 percent alcohol by volume). Moonshine on the other hand also starts at 80 Proof on the low end but goes all the way up to 190 Proof at the top.
Moonshine purists define the spirit as a homemade, unaged whiskey, marked by its clear color, corn base, and high alcohol content—sometimes peaking as high as 190 proof. Traditionally, it was produced in a homemade still and bottled in a mason jar.
Is Moonshine 100 Percent Alcohol? No, moonshine is not 100% alcohol. Generally, moonshine falls between 40% and 80% alcohol by volume, but the length of time and process used in distilling it will impact the content.
One of the top reasons people like to drink moonshine is its versatility. Depending on the flavor, you can mix it, drink it on ice, make your favorite co*cktails, or enjoy it neat. Here are some ways people prefer their moonshine: An Arnold Palmer: instead of vodka, add moonshine to your mix of lemonade and sweet tea.
Moonshine is usually distilled to 40% ABV, and seldom above 66% based on 48 samples. For example, conventional pot stills commonly produce 40% ABV, and top out between 60 and 80% ABV after multiple distillations.
It will simply get people drunker. However, after it is metabolized, the methanol can have an extremely harmful effect in someone's body. 10 milliliters (ml) of methanol is all it takes to permanently damage the optic nerve and cause partial, if not complete, blindness.
Moonshine has a flavor that is more like vodka than a dark-colored whiskey. This is because historically, moonshine is seldom matured, and obtaining and keeping oak barrels for maturing secretly would've been extremely difficult. However, because there weren't any legal criteria, the flavor varied.
During distillation, alcohol separates from the mash. Unlike other liquors such as whiskey or bourbon, moonshine is unaged, which produces a distilled spirit with high alcohol content.
A major risk of drinking moonshine is methanol blindness. Detecting methanol upon the first step is impossible, and consuming more of it will simply get the person drunker. However, it's eventually metabolized as its toxic metabolite, formic acid, in the body, which can have an extremely harmful effect.
This historic drink is made with corn, barley, and wheat, creating a powerful spirit similar to whiskey. So, what's the best way to serve moonshine? While you're welcome to drink it straight, there are plenty of great mixers to add. In fact, people have been drinking mixed moonshine drinks since the 1920s.
How much alcohol is in a shot of moonshine? Usually, 1.5 ounces or a “shot” of distilled spirits or liquor contains 80-proof or 40% alcohol by volume. However, it depends on the variety.
While it is possible to buy 200 proof alcohol, it isn't sold for consumption. Ethanol has an affinity for water and, when exposed to air, will draw out any moisture from the atmosphere and suck it up.
The amount of congeners present in alcohol can vary. As a general rule, the more distilled a spirit is, the lower the congeners. This is why some people may find that “top shelf” liquors that are highly distilled don't give them a hangover as much as a lower-priced alternative.
The selling price is around $25 a gallon if sold in bulk, or $40 for retail price. “They can make as much as $10,000 a month,” the task force said. Producers make five to six gallons every seven days in the winter and 7 gallons every five days in warmer weather.
Remember, 200 proof moonshine has 100% alcohol content contained on it. Drinking it pure would seriously burn your throat. That being said, be careful with moonshines that have 150 plus final alcohol content. On average, 100 to 120 proof is pretty much the level people can comfortably drink their moonshine.
Physically speaking, there is no real difference between vodka and moonshine. Both are unaged neutral spirits, usually cut with water to increase volume and produce a more drinkable product. The difference is mostly geographic.
Many amateur distillers of moonshine also do not follow protocols, so quality control of the alcoholic substance is not always possible. For example, toxic bacteria can still grow in a moonshine still which can make you sick.
That means 37.5% of the drink is pure alcohol. But the alcoholic strength of vodka is often higher – many widely bought vodka brands are 40% ABV or above, and some can be even stronger. Checking a vodka's Alcohol By Volume (ABV) will tell you how strong it is.
Well, the most popular type of liquor in most U.S. states is whiskey, but vodka is a close second. Meanwhile, staple liquors like tequila and rum aren't the most popular liquor in nearly as many states, so the gap between whiskey and vodka and the other liquors is quite large.
Another strong alcohol, Golden Grain is a 100% neutral spirit distilled from grain. Similar to Everclear, it's colourless and odourless. It is majorly used for creating homemade liqueurs and extracts.
Alcohol detection tests can measure alcohol in the blood for up to 6 hours, on the breath for 12 to 24 hours, urine for 12 to 24 hours (72 or more hours with more advanced detection methods), saliva for 12 to 24 hours, and hair for up to 90 days.
Typically moonshine doesn't require refrigeration for storage. Storing your moonshine in the fridge will not damage it. Direct sunlight, heat and oxygen are going to be the biggest issues you will face. So you need to keep your bottle closed and in the dark if you can.
The heads won't make you blind, but the volatile alcohols they contain will give you a whopping hangover. The product also smells and tastes terrible, this is because of the acetone that is present.
The direct effects of alcohol are the same whether you drink wine, beer or spirits. There's no evidence that different types of alcohol cause different mood states. People aren't even very good at recognising their mood states when they have been drinking. So where does the myth come from?
Drinking wine, beer, or hard liquor during the day can make you feel drowsy or lethargic. If you didn't sleep well the night before, even one drink can make you drowsy, especially if you drink during one of your usual low-energy times — for example, midafternoon or late evening.
No, even if Tito's vodka is made from 100% corn, it is not a moonshine. Moonshine is a high-proof liquor made illegally, and since Tito's vodka has a distillation license, you cannot consider it a Moonshine. In addition, Moonshine is mostly just corn whiskey distilled in not more than 80% ABV.
What's the Difference Between Everclear and Moonshine? Both Everclear and Moonshine are unaged spirits; however, Everclear is made from grain and Moonshine from corn. Everclear is a brand name of a neutral-tasting, very potent grain alcohol. Moonshine is a general term used to describe illegally produced corn whiskey.
No, moonshine does not taste like vodka. Moonshine uses a corn base mixed with other grains to enhance savor. These clear spirits will remind you more of whiskey than any other spirit. On the other hand, vodka is colorless, odorless, and tasteless unless flavored.
Always dispose of the first bit of moonshine, in order to avoid contamination with methanol (which has a lower boiling point than ethanol). Contagion with methanol can be noticed by the bad smell and taste of your moonshine and needs to be avoided, since it is toxic.
While not all moonshine is dangerous, consuming drinks that have a high alcohol content on a frequent basis comes with other serious health risks. Liver disease and diabetes can easily develop when the body can't metabolize these stronger alcohols at a fast enough rate.
Methyl alcohol (methanol) is the bad stuff that could be found in moonshine (or any distilled spirit for that matter). Pure methanol is very dangerous and it is definitely able to cause blindness and even kill people. As little as 10 ml of pure methanol could blind someone and as little as 30 ml could kill someone.
While you're welcome to drink it straight, there are plenty of great mixers to add. In fact, people have been drinking mixed moonshine drinks since the 1920s.
Is moonshine stronger than other alcohol? Yes, moonshine is stronger than other alcohol if it is made appropriately. Because it hasn't been aged, it is just extremely powerful alcohol with a very strong flavor or “kick.” It's generally quite strong, up to 150 proof (about 75 percent alcohol).
It's made with care and attention. It's made from recipes that have been passed down for generations. It's quality in a jar. And because 'shine is so deeply rooted in American history—from the Prohibition Era to the birth of NASCAR, people love it because it's a real American drink.
It has high alcohol content, a glass or two is more than what you probably need. On average, a proof moonshine could range somewhere between 100 to 150 proof. When you convert that alcohol by volume, 150 proof is equivalent to 75% alcohol by volume.
The amount of congeners present in alcohol can vary. As a general rule, the more distilled a spirit is, the lower the congeners. This is why some people may find that “top shelf” liquors that are highly distilled don't give them a hangover as much as a lower-priced alternative.
Methanol poisoning is a dreadful way to go. Even if you manage to avoid death, blindness and brain damage are common in survivors. (Hence the term “blind drunk.”) And this is hardly the first time in recent years that bootleg liquors have caused so much death and destruction.
Introduction: My name is Pres. Lawanda Wiegand, I am a inquisitive, helpful, glamorous, cheerful, open, clever, innocent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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