Here Are The Best Legal Moonshine Brands On The Market

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Moonshine may intimidate some of you, but there’s no reason to shy away from the clear high-proof liquor. Moonshine was originally a slang term for high-proof distilled spirits made without government authorization. Since 2010, moonshine has been legal in the United States. With an ABV of about 60 percent, moonshine takes the cake for alcoholic content when compared to regular amber-colored whiskey with an ABV of about 40 percent. Here are the best moonshine brands out there.

Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine

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At 100 proof, Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine creates a strong peppery feel on the back of the throat. The 100-year-old recipe makes a white whiskey that smells a little like bread. The finish is smooth, which makes Ole Smoky a great gateway product into the world of moonshine. If you want something a little less intense, try the Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine that’s mixed with pure apple juice, ground cinnamon and other spices. Get a jar of the Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine here. 

Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey

This smooth, yet sweet aromatic whiskey is splashed with Southern Sweet tea to take off some of the usually potent taste of moonshine. It was created by well-known moonshiner Marvin “Popcorn” Sutton.

Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash

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With an ABV of 62.5 percent, this Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash is made of 100 percent grain and has a proof of 125. It’s corn-heavy with some malty notes, and it’s one of the few types of moonshine on the market that’s not watered down to 80 or 90 proof before it’s bottled. You can get a bottle here.

George Dickel White Corn Whiskey

Best served in a mixed drink or over ice, George Dickel White Corn Whiskey is known for it’s smooth and mellow moonshine flavor.

Hudson New York Corn Whiskey

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This bottle of moonshine is made from New York corn with no added sugar, which gives you a clear drinking experience. Hudson New York Corn Whiskey gets bottled at 46 percent ABV. It’s also the foundation for Tuthilltown’s Hudson Baby Bourbon Whiskey. 

White Pike Whiskey

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Made with locally-sourced corn, spelt and malted wheat, White Pike is distilled and bottled in upstate New York. If you’ve never tried moonshine this brand might be a good way to ease yourself into the world of white whiskey. This particular bottle isn’t aged for more than 18 minutes. The ABV is 40 percent and the proof is 80. Put it in your cocktail or drink it on the rocks. Here’s where to get a bottle. 

Troy And Sons Platinum

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Troy Ball, the founder of Asheville Distilling Company in North Carolina, is a master distiller who uses rare heirloom corn from Crooked Creek Mills in her moonshine. Platinum moonshine is the signature spirit of this family-owned and operated company and it’s the only whiskey in the world made from this specific heirloom corn. Platinum is 80 proof with smooth corn notes and a lingering kick. Here’s where to buy a bottle. Prices range depending on location. 

Bill Elliot’s Moonshine

In flavors like white lightning, apple pie and Georgia corn, this booze is brewed in (somewhat bizarre) partnership with the legendary NASCAR driver Bill Elliot.

Dark Corner Distillery Moonshine

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With a combination of corn, red wheat and barley, Dark Corner Distillery hand-mashes its moonshine and distills it twice. It’s a smooth moonshine with a rich, buttery kettle corn aroma and it gives off notes of farm-fresh sweet corn and toasted spice on your palate. Branded The World’s Best Moonshine, this bottle has an ABV of 50 percent and a proof of 100. You can order it online or request it in stores in specific states.

Tim Smith’s Climax Moonshine

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Made in Virginia, Climax Moonshine is distilled from corn and barley malt. It has a clean and natural taste with a pinch of spiciness and subtle sweetness. It’s equally smooth and strong at 90 proof with an ABV of 45 percent. Moonshiner Tim Smith stars on the Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners” and makes Climax Moonshine with an original family recipe. Here’s where to get a bottle. 

Stillhouse Clear Corn Whiskey

The signature Stillhouse distilleries in Kentucky and Virginia use copper whiskey stills to craft this high-quality moonshine.