Original Moonshine Clear Corn Whiskey

[silverfish]

Spotted this on Uncrate:

"We'll admit to having sipped on illegal hooch more than once or twice, but

if you'd rather not roll the dice with your eyesight — or possibly your life —

then grab yourself a bottle of Original Moonshine ($TBA). This 80 proof clear

whiskey is charcoal-filtered and distilled four times in a Prohibition-era copper

pot still for a drink that's all-natural and gluten-free, with a flavor that's

smooth, mellow, and surprisingly mixable. Drink out of a Mason jar with whole

fruit chunks for extra authenticity points."

[Josh]

80 proof and distilled four times? FAIL.

[tmckenzie]

virginia lightning. I was told a german company bought them out. I am not convinced that it is not made with sugar.

[Josh]

virginia lightning. I was told a german company bought them out. I am not convinced that it is not made with sugar.

I get a lot of corn out of Virginia Lightning myself, and I think it's damn good. If this is from Belmont Farms (it's not on their website), it's a big step down from Virginia Lightning at 100 proof. IIANM, Copper Fox is in the same vincinity.

The only unaged Corn that I thought was as good as or better than VL was one I opened today: Glen Thunder.:grin: Great work guys.

P.S. Helluvalotta misinformation on that website [the Stillhouse one].

[ILLfarmboy]

80 proof and distilled four times? FAIL.

I'm not that trendy. I would have used the word "pathetic".

[Josh]

That works just as well.

[tmckenzie]

I know for a fact it is from belmont farms. A lot of people say they get corn in vl. I do not at all. You get the taste of true corn from our glen thiunder. In my opinion. Misinformation on our site?

[Josh]

I know for a fact it is from belmont farms. A lot of people say they get corn in vl. I do not at all. You get the taste of true corn from our glen thiunder. In my opinion. Misinformation on our site?

[tmckenzie]

I will take a look. Thanks for trying and liking our stuff.

[imbibehour]

I don't mind the VA Lightning so much either on an odd occasion.

The one thing I read about for white whiskey who had an opinion on it, is that if the company has to put it in some funky bottle or make a gimmick out of its jug like past then that was a sign to steer clear...

here was my 2 cents on VA lightning.

[cowdery]

4x distillation is something vodkas crow about but since the final distillation proof for corn whiskey can't exceed 160, 4x distillation is at best irrelevant and at worst unlikely. It's a pretty poor distilling system that can't reach 160 in less than four distillations.

[B.B. Babington]

There are reasons a distller would triple or quad distill other than trying to bring proof up. They can develop a profile by specifically removing specific congeners, but in the process they may take it to just straight ethanol flavor and not much else if they aren't careful. The end distillation product may be 160 and then they cut it back to 80 with water to sell it to the mass market consumer.

A lot of corn whiskey is not really sold for the flavor. Around the holidays people buy it and then add peach or plum or whatever. Also, some people prefer alcohol with little taste (look at vodka success) to use for mixer.

[cowdery]

A lot of what is sold as "moonshine" is really vodka, e.g., the Junior Johnson product. This is corn whiskey which, at 160 proof, inevitably will have some flavor to it. What you say about why someone might distill four times is true in theory but hard to figure in practice. "Distilled Four Times" probably isn't a claim the TTB would verify as part of the COLA process, so it might not even be true. Assuming it is, I suspect it was done for no purpose other than to allow them to put "Distilled Four Times" on the label.

[capitals83]

I have always really liked Virginia Lightning. I was always impressed that a small local distillery made a good product (good in terms of what an unaged corn whiskey should be) for a pretty good price. In fact it has become my after thanksgiving dinner drink the past few years.

This new product however seems to be marketed towards the trendy "mixologist" crowd. Especially since it only seems to be currently available at NYC bars at the moment.

Kudos if Belmont Farms can make some cash flow in the clear mixable spirits market. But Virginia Lightning still has its fans who want a real corn whiskey.

[Stu]

For those of you wanting real corn whiskey, try Uncle Ed's Arkansas Moonshine. It's what Georgia Moon wishes it was. Made by Old Ed Wards distillery in Newport, AR, this is the closest thing I've had from a legal distillery to what my Uncle Ben used to make. Their master distiller told me "I've been making whiskey for 40 years, only now I'm doing it legally". He uses feed corn, and sugar and yeast from the supermarket. There is heavy corn on the nose and on the pallet. One of his competitors told me that he just makes corn flavored rum because the corn couldn't convert to sugar by his process. Whatever, I thought it was good. I'm going to get a small barrel and age some for a few months and see what happens. Hopefully it will be ready by the sampler.

There is another distillery in AR, Rock City Distillery, in Little Rock. They make vodka and gin (yuk), but in January they will be releasing a bourbon aged in 5 and 10 gallon barrels for 1 year. I had a sample aged 1 month and was surprised at the quality. It will be expensive, bu I'll buy a bottle and take it to the Sampler. I'll also have some Uncle Ed's as well.

[kickert]

There is another distillery in AR, Rock City Distillery, in Little Rock. They make vodka and gin (yuk), but in January they will be releasing a bourbon aged in 5 and 10 gallon barrels for 1 year. I had a sample aged 1 month and was surprised at the quality. It will be expensive, bu I'll buy a bottle and take it to the Sampler. I'll also have some Uncle Ed's as well.

Trust me... 1 year in a 5 gallon barrel is way too long. 6 months is about as long as I would ever want.

[Stu]

Trust me... 1 year in a 5 gallon barrel is way too long. 6 months is about as long as I would ever want.

Maybe that's why he's using some 10 gallon barrels as well? I'm not sure that it's all been aged for a year, I got there sort of late and got a rushed tour (my fault). Make it to the Sampler, and we'll discuss the age while we're tilting a glass.

[sku]

There is another distillery in AR, Rock City Distillery, in Little Rock. They make vodka and gin (yuk), but in January they will be releasing a bourbon aged in 5 and 10 gallon barrels for 1 year. I had a sample aged 1 month and was surprised at the quality. It will be expensive, bu I'll buy a bottle and take it to the Sampler. I'll also have some Uncle Ed's as well.

Rock Town, right?

[capitals83]

Original Moonshine is now on the shelves in Virginia. At $42 a bottle I think I will pass.

[Stu]

Rock Town, right?

Right, if available. Uncle Ed's as well.

[VAGentleman]

Here's a good article on Original Moonshine. Its made at Belmont Farms (soon to change its name to Stillhouse Distillery at Belmont Farms)

http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2010/nov/16/marketing-moonshine-ar-655810/

I prefer Virginia Lightning (and even like their Kopper Kettle bourbon), this new stuff is definitely being marketed upscale.

[Josh]

Here's a good article on Original Moonshine. Its made at Belmont Farms (soon to change its name to Stillhouse Distillery at Belmont Farms)

http://www2.starexponent.com/news/2010/nov/16/marketing-moonshine-ar-655810/

I prefer Virginia Lightning (and even like their Kopper Kettle bourbon), this new stuff is definitely being marketed upscale.

Welcome to SB and thanks for the link!

IIRC Kopper Kettle is really just a wood-infused Corn Whiskey. They use applewood chips I believe. The article descibes it as "triple grain whiskey" whatever that means.

[VAGentleman]

Thanks for the welcome. Yes KK is tea-bagged with Apple and Oak chips then put into oak barrels. They officially call it a bourbon but it is different