This blog provides information for educational purposes only. Read our complete summary for more info.
Last updated
Kyle Brown
Owner of Clawhammer Supply
Before we get started, a reminder: Distilling alcohol is illegal without a federal fuel alcohol or distilled spirit plant permit as well as relevant state permits. Our distillation equipment is designed for legal uses only and the information in this article is for educational purposes only. Please read our complete legal summary for more information on the legalities of distillation.
Apple "Moonshine" Mash - Easy Version
The easiestapple moonshine mash recipewould be to mix off the shelf, high proof spirits with an apple pie spice mix. We've done the hard part and have created the perfect blend of apple pie moonshine spices for you!
Apple not your flavor? Check out the rest of our moonshine recipes.
Apple Brandy Advanced Recipe
This advanced recipe we developed involves the distillation of alcohol, for which federal, state, and local permits are needed. We had a fuel alcohol permit when we tested this procedure and we were in compliance with state and federal regulations. We produced, stored, and used this alcohol in accordance with TTB requirements. We also kept and reported production logs in accordance with TTB fuel alcohol permit requirements. Do not try this without the proper permits.
To clarify, distilled fruit wine is typically called "Brandy." However, there are commercial examples of un-aged apple brandy that have been labeled "moonshine." This is the distillers' preference. That said, the first step in the process of makingapple "moonshine," or brandy, is to actually make apple wine. After the apple wine has finished fermenting, it can be turned into high proof spirits through the process of distillation.
Ingredients
- 25 pounds ofripe apples ( 1/2 bushel. We used a mixed variety of apples whichworked out really well)
- 5-10 pounds cane sugar (We found added 1-2 pounds per gallon of mash worked really well)
- Enough water to reach 5gallons of total liquid after juicing the apples
- 2.5 teaspoon yeast nutrient (We just followed the directions on the label. The brand we used required 1/2 tsp per gallon)
- 1 packet dry wine yeast
Mashing Equipment
- Pleasant Hill MacIntosh Fruit Press 3-5Gallon
- Pleasant Hill Maximizer Fruit Grinder
- 6.5 gallon fermenter with airlock
- Large pot for mashing
- Mash paddle or spoon
- Brewing/Wine hydrometer or refractometer
- Brewing thermometer
Target Apple Wine Stats
- Starting Gravity: 1.065
- Ending Gravity: 1.000
- Wash Alcohol By Volume: (ABV) 8.5%
- Spirit ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
- Time to Ferment: 7-14 Days (can vary depending on yeast and temp)
- Fermentation temperature: 70F
If you're into short cuts, you might want to check out our Apple Pie Moonshine Spice Kit before reading the rest of this recipe. It produces an awesome apple "shine" using a secret mix of spices and off the shelf alcohol!
Mashing And Fermentation Process
1. We picked a halfbushes of apples.When making apple wine the more acidicand sour varieties of apples are best (Winesap, McIntosh, and Jonathans all work great)
7. Collected the apple juice in a sanitized bucket
8. Once all of the appleswerejuiced,we added the juice into the mash pot.
13. Our original gravity was 1.013
Kyle Brown is the owner of Clawhammer Supply, a small scale distillation and brewing equipment company which he founded in 2009. His passion is teaching people about the many uses of distillation equipment as well as how to make beer at home. When he isn't brewing beer or writing about it, you can find him at his local gym or on the running trail.
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Hi, I have just recently started (First Time) an apple jack mash. I have a small still 10ltre, thumper, condenser coil and water supply pump for cooling. I used 3ltr pure apple juice, about 11/2 kg of apple (diced)1kg brown sugar, 3/4 kg white sugar inhot water to dissolve, cinnamon stick stired altogether, added 21/2 teaspoon of turbo yeast,added to a bucket with airlock bubbler on the lid, 7 days have passed stirring once a day, it has stopped releasing gases and is quite settled. I tasted it and it has a very tangy taste, but doesn’t taste like apples. I wanted to ask (before I put it through the still) if this seems right to you.
I would be very greatfull for your advice and expertise. Hoping to start cooking on Saturday morning. I look forward to your earliest positive reply.
Many Thanks,
Glyn Morgan
Wales
United kingdom -
How do you get the Apple flavor to transfer to your finished product during distillation
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how long you mash and which temp?
whY don’t you leave skins in the fermenter, to avoid adding yeast?
thanks -
For an apple brandy, I was going to buy apple cyder from a local farmer who makes fresh apple cyder (nothing added). For a 5 gal batch should I get 5 gals? or should I get 1 gal and the rest water.
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For an apple brandy, I was going to buy apple cyder from a local farmer who makes fresh apple cyder (nothing added). For a 5 gal batch should I get 5 gals? or should I get 1 gal and the rest water.
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How long does the mash set?
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Just reading up on recipes, deciding which direction to go. Going to have a bumper crop of pears this year, so I have the summer to get it together and hopefully know what I’m doing.
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My Apple pie has been working for 3 weeks now or better it’s a different recipe than I normally do should I just pour it out and yes still sweet tasting
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My Apple pie has been working for 3 weeks now or better it’s a different recipe than I normally do should I just pour it out and yes still sweet tasting
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NORML has increased taxes through legalization of Marijuana… why not have a group called LHL
Legalize Homebrew Liquor -
Hello,
I recently purchased the clawhammer still shown in the above picture. I am going to try and make some cinnamon apple mash and try to make my first batch of moonshine for my own consumption. Any help from your personals would be greatly appreciated. I look forward to using your still and products in the future.Thanks Henry Eisenhuth
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1 pound of sugar to one gallon of watter and a quarter of your barrel fill with what ever you ferment with .Blue berrys. Apples corn strawberrys or what ever .Make sure u use a 1/4 of your barrel for fermenting .
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your recipe for apple moonshine instructs us to start heating the mash but doesn’t say to bring it to a boil … and for how long?
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Sugar has no place in pure brandy
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How much moonshine do you actually get from this recipe??
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WHERE DO I GET THE GALLON BOWLS FROM
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I thought you are supposed to throw the heads out I thought it was poisoness
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@doug When you boil the feeder corn and let it cool the starch will make it so thick ya can’t do anything with it.. at what point do you add the malted grain to break it down? Also… What temp does the Levin yeast require?
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Fell me in on using apple juice from the grocery store to make my shine.
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How many pounds of blueberries do I need for a 40 gallon wash and also how much sugar?
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