Best Grain for Distilling

Our flaked corn is a great option for producing premium moonshine

Flaked corn or maize, better known as steam-flaked corn, is a great option for those who want a simple base for their high-proof moonshine. 

This premium grain is great quality, easy to work with, and produces great-tasting shine. No need to mill-however, you can create a corn meal easily using a coffee grinder if desired. 

Flaked corn has been gelatinized and rolled so that it is ready for starch extraction. Flaked corn does not have the enzymes needed to break down the starches so, you will still need malted grains with it in the mash.

TYPICAL ANALYSIS
Moisture................................................................. 7.0%
Extract FG, Dry Basis ...........................................80.0%
Protein, Dry Basis................................................. 10.0%
Conversion Time.............................................. <10 min

Moonshine is often made from corn, which is a cheap and widely available grain that can produce high-proof alcohol.

Malted barley is another popular grain for whiskey production, as it adds flavor and complexity to the drink.

 

Rye is also commonly used for whiskey but has a more intense flavor than other grains like wheat or oats.

What Type of Grain is Used for Moonshine? 

Distilled grain spirits are typically made from rye, wheat, corn, and/or barley - though sometimes other grains like oats may be used too.

Whiskey production usually involves malted barley in addition to one or two other grains such as rye or wheat.

The main difference between distilled grain spirits and whiskey is that whiskey must be aged in oak barrels to bring out its characteristic flavor and aroma.

 

No matter what type of spirit you’re looking to make, choosing the best grain for distilling is key to creating a tasty and enjoyable drink.

For moonshine, corn is a great choice. For whiskey, malted barley plus at least one other grain is usually ideal. And for distilled grain spirits, rye, wheat, corn, and/or barley are all good options to consider.

Making premium moonshine has never been easier with our malted barley! 

Our Malted Barley is produced from the only AMBA non-GN producing barley available in the U.S.A.

This single varietal base malt is ideal for producing single malt whiskey. This traditional European profile has moderate enzyme activity and a high level of fermentability. It leaves a sweet and bready flavor with a note of honey. 

• Moisture - 4.5%
• Color - 1.9° Lovibond
• Protein - 11.1%
• Diastatic Power - 100

Our malted barley has been milled for your convenience!

Do you want to make moonshine like Popcorn Sutton? Check out our Popcorn Sutton Moonshine Grain Kit! 

Get a free Digital Recipe card with your purchase. 

The Popcorn Sutton Moonshine Recipe Kit Includes: 

3 -1b bags of Raw Yellow Corn for Moonshine

4-1lb bags of Malted Barley for Moonshine 

1 Package Distillers Yeast 

Our Popcorn Sutton Moonshine Grain kit is the easiest way to make moonshine like a legend.

Our kit includes everything you need to make moonshine like Sutton -even your yeast! 

You'll have all the nutrients, flavor, and aroma needed to make your moonshine just the way Popcorn Sutton would have wanted. Plus, with our easy-to-follow instructions, you'll be transforming your ingredients into quality moonshine in no time!

The Legend of Popcorn Sutton

You won't find a bigger moonshine legend than Marvin ‘Popcorn’ Sutton. Popcorn Sutton was famous for his delicious shine, and his appearances in several documentaries on the subject.

Sutton made his living by making whiskey using a 100-year-old family recipe and selling it out of the back of his Ford Model A truck.

Popcorn Sutton and Tennessee White Whiskey

via GIPHY

Popcorn Sutton would boast he had moonshine in his blood. He was taught the craft of shining from a young age, just like his father and grandfather before him. With a Scottish-Irish heritage, he was born into a long line of moonshiners. 

For more information on Sutton, click here. 

Me and My Likker

Sutton may be a famous figure now, but he actually was unknown for most of his life. He didn't become famous until he was 60. 

His fame was a result of his participation in several documentaries including The Last One, which actually went on to win a regional Emmy. He also appeared in  “This is the Last Dam Run of Likker I’ll Ever Make."

In 1999 he penned his own autobiographical guide to making moonshine which he self-published called "Me and My Likker" which also chronicled his incredible journey of moonshine production.

Moonshine Should Be Legal

via GIPHY

Popcorn Sutton was a big believer that moonshine should be legal to make and consume. However, his many brushes with the law would ultimately be his downfall. 

During his youth, Popcorn had several run-ins with the law but he never served any time. 

However, according to the New York Times, Popcorn's luck ran out one day when he was approached by an undercover federal officer. 

Sutton told the officer he had 500 gallons of moonshine in Tennessee and another 400 gallons in Maggie Valley that he was ready to sell.

This information led to a raid on his property and he was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison. This was a light sentence considering that Popcorn was on probation at the time. The judge went easy on Popcorn because of his advancing age and failing health. 

A LIGHT SENTENCE

Despite his long list of charges, including tax evasion,  Sutton was only sentenced to 18 months in prison. The judge in Sutton's case showed some leniency due to Sutton's age and his failing health but insisted on jail time. 

Popcorn Sutton's Death

Sutton never ended up serving any time as he committed suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning on March 16, 2009.

Sutton was reportedly suffering from cancer at the time of his death.

Popcorn Sutton Moonshine Recipe

Despite his death, Popcorn Sutton's legend lives on through the documentaries he appeared in, his autobiography, and of course, his moonshine. 

Take the guesswork out of making Popcorn Sutton's Shine recipe with our recipe kit. 

Keep your moonshine sweet and simple with our raw yellow corn (mealed) for moonshine.

Corn is the base for any moonshine, but which one to choose?

Those who want an ingredient that is simple to use and adds a great flavor can't go wrong with our raw yellow corn. 

Our mealed corn makes it easy to make a delicious and high ABV shine every time. Popcorn Sutton swore by corn meal in his shine and you will too! 

How to Choose the Perfect Grain for Distilling

When it comes to creating high-proof alcohol, grains like corn are a great option for moonshine.

Rye is also a popular choice for whiskey production due to its more intense flavor than other grains, while malted barley adds complexity and depth of flavor. For distilled grain spirits, rye, wheat, corn, and/or barley are all good choices.

Using the right grain can make or break your home distilling experience. So it’s important to do some research on what grain is best suited for the drink you’re making – not only in terms of flavor but also in terms of cost and availability.

To get the most out of your homemade spirits, choose the right grain for distilling at the start.

What to Consider Before Choosing Your Grain 

When you’re ready to start the distilling process, it’s important to have an understanding of what each grain can do for your spirit.

Corn is a great option for moonshine because it produces high-proof alcohol with relative ease and affordability.

Malted barley is the most popular choice for whiskey due to its unique flavor profile, while rye adds an extra punch of boldness that other grains such as wheat or oats can’t quite match.

Distilled grain spirits usually involve multiple types of grain including rye, wheat, corn, and/or barley – so think carefully about which combination will give you the desired results.

Finally, when choosing between different grains for distilling, keep in mind cost and availability, as well as flavor.

With the right grain, you can make a spirit that rivals anything found at the store!

Make the Most out of Your Mash with Amylase for Moonshine

Our Amylase is ready to get to work making the most out of your mash. Get your moonshine off to the right start with our amylase. 

With the right amount of amylase, you can get the proper enzymes for fermentation, ensuring the best flavor, aroma, and alcohol content for your moonshine.

1.5 oz - Good for 30 gallons of moonshine. Stored in a resealable pouch. 

What is Amylase Used for in Moonshine? 

Amylase is a  bacterially-derived enzyme that is a great option for those who want to make moonshine but don’t want to add malted grains. The malt is required to achieve a proper starch conversion so if you are not able or want to add malted starch to your recipe you can substitute it for amylase. 

You can tell when amylase is ready to get to work when your mash becomes thick and gelatin-like. This happens when your starch absorbs the liquid in your mash and then bursts open. 

Once your amylase is added you will notice your mash liquifies again. This is because the amylase breaks down the starch into dextrins and simple sugars to get it ready for fermentation. 

Do I Need Amylase to Make Moonshine?

Amylase is not necessary for every recipe, as adding malted grains, such as our Malted Barley will do the same job. However, if your recipe does not have enough naturally occurring enzymes, you will need amylase to help with starch conversion. 

By adding amylase, starches are quickly converted into simpler, fermentable sugars, so that your mash turns out exactly the way you want it. This essential enzyme helps to accelerate the mash process and provides uniformity and consistency to your finished product.

How Much Amylase do you Add to Moonshine?

Amylase enzyme is used during the mashing process when there are not enough naturally occurring enzymes, typically due to a mash containing a high level of adjuncts. Also used to more rapidly and completely convert starches into sugars.

Usage varies, but the typical dosage rate is 1/4 oz per 5 gallons. Combined with other ingredients, this enzyme helps ensure a higher yield of ethanol and glucose, resulting in a higher quality, smoother-tasting distilled spirit.

Amylase Moonshine Recipe

Amylase is used in moonshine recipes when the recipe does not include a malted grain. One example of this is our Malt O Meal Moonshine recipe. 

This recipe uses your favorite cereal to make your favorite spirit-moonshine!  It's a simple, veritably foolproof way to get moonshine that is ready to drink in about one week! It's the perfect way to get your craft-style booze, easy peasy!

Check out the recipe here! 

Our Whiskey Distillery Yeast for Moonshine gives you professional moonshine results at home. 

Our high-quality yeast is a pure culture whiskey strain of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. This strain is common in commercial whiskey production, with robust and authentic aromatics even in high-alcohol fermentations.

Can yeast make your moonshine even better? We challenge you to make your best moonshine yet with our distillery yeast! 

This distillery yeast is carefully cultured to create a unique flavor, delivering flavors and aromas to your still that are not easily replicated without the right yeast strain. Perfect for all size batches, choose our yeast to ensure your final product has a memorable flavor.

Best Yeast for Moonshine Mash

Our yeast is professionally crafted to get the most out of your mash. To get your best shine every time our yeast includes complete nutrition and amyloglucosidase, to help with starch conversion. 

With our advanced yeast, you can experience complete dextrin conversion, maximum yield, and rapid fermentation. One package is sufficient for 6.6-gallon fermentation. 

Our yeast is formulated to give you big results in a short amount of time. It offers fast fermentation, a full flavor profile, and an optimal alcohol yield. With this yeast, you can trust you're getting the best flavor and strength out of every mash.

Statistics:
Ideal Water Start Temp: 86° F
Ferment Temp Range: 63 - 73° F (17 - 23° C)

What Kind of Yeast is Best for Moonshine? 

There are many different types of yeast that can be used for making moonshine, bread yeast, distillers yeast, and turbo yeast. Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. 

Turbo Yeast: 

Turbo yeast is a popular option for those who are looking for fast results with a high ABV. Of course, this would seem like the easy answer, but it is not that simple. While turbo yeast may be an easy way to cut down on your fermentation time, it also has its disadvantages. 

The biggest disadvantage to Turbo Yeast is that it can cause your moonshine to have an unpleasant taste. Many seasoned shiners steer clear for this reason. 

Bread Yeast: 

Distiller’s Yeast:

Distiller’s yeast is a great option for those who want great results with minimal effort. All of the nutrients are already in place to get the best results for your moonshine mash every time. 

It's a simple solution for great flavor and reliable results. Plus, its highly-concentrated composition reduces time and effort for fast and easy distilling.

How Much Yeast for Moonshine?

The amount of yeast needed for your moonshine mash will vary by the type of yeast you are using. Turbo or Distiller’s yeast will have guidelines printed on their packaging to make it fail-proof. 

If you are using bread yeast you can use the ratio of 2 to 4 grams of dried yeast for every gallon of mash.

What Do I Do if My Yeast Isn’t Working? 

A great indicator your fermentation is going to be successful is the formation of kraeusen which is the foamy head of the yeast.

This should form within the first four hours of fermentation but can take as long as 24 hours. If this has not formed in 24 hours, you need to pitch in additional yeast. 

How to Activate Yeast for Moonshine

You can activate the yeast for moonshine in the same way you proof moonshine when making bread. This proofing essentially gives your yeast a head-start and is a great boost to your fermentation.