The Sweet Apple Pie Moonshine Backstory
There are two types of people in this world. Those who pee in the shower and think straight moonshine tastes like sh*t, and dirty f**king liars.
I can honestly say, without hesitation, I’ve had enough moonshine in my life to consider myself a bit of an authority. But saying I’ve drunk as much white lightning as I have because I like the taste is like saying I like buying girls drinks because I have extra money burning a hole in my pocket. I drink ‘shine because there is no other alcohol on earth that can get you drunker, faster, and with so very little effort.
But again, I don’t like the taste. At all. I do, however, absof*ckinglutely adore sweet apple pie moonshine. And I have a recipe for Sweet Apple Pie Moonshine I’ve concocted that can be made in your kitchen with little more than a big pot and a measuring cup. And it’s nothing short of delicious.
Before we get to the Sweet Apple Pie Moonshine recipe, let’s get one thing out in the open. It is absolutely ILLEGAL for ANYONE to make, transport, or consume moonshine in the United States. Period. I don’t give a crap what your Uncle Eustice or Pappy or cousin Shelby-Joe (who once f*cked a guy who claimed to be an FBI agent in a truck stop bathroom) says. You can’t legally make, possess, or consume any amount of moonshine.
So how are we going to make LEGAL moonshine? We’re going to improvise. You see, moonshine is around 180 to 190 proof or about 85% – 95% pure alcohol. The closest legal thing you can get is Everclear which is sold in both 151 proof and 190 proof. In other words, you can buy legal alcohol that is the exact same thing as illegal moonshine. And it tastes just as horrible in its pure state.
The only thing that makes one moonshine better than the other is what you cut it with. Lemons, cherries, peaches, blueberries or in our case, a mixture of apple cider, apple juice, and two kinds of sugar.
The Sweet Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe
Here’s what you need to make 12 Mason jars (16oz) worth of Sweet Apple Pie Moonshine.
- (2) liters of Everclear (190 proof) or grain alcohol
- (1) pint of Captain Morgan 100 proof spiced rum (optional)
- (1) gallon of apple cider (I prefer the kind with lots of pulp)
- (1) gallon of apple juice
- (1.5) cups of sugar
- (1.5) cups of brown sugar
- (12) cinnamon sticks
- (12) 16 oz Mason jars
Take the apple juice and apple cider and mix it into a big pot. Place the pot on the stove and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, stir in the white and brown sugars until they completely dissolve. Remove the pot from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Once cooled, add in both bottles of Everclear grain alcohol. Captain Morgan is listed as optional, but I think it adds a nice little spice to the mix. Pour the mix into the jars and add 1-2 cinnamon sticks to each one.
You can drink this stuff right off the bat, and it is great heated up like hot cider. But the optimal waiting period, if you can wait this long, is two weeks to give the cinnamon time to seep in and add all its flavor.
Heed these words…this stuff is dangerous. It goes down super easy and will creep right up on you in a hurry and put you under the table. I’ve made a few batches for myself, but it’s also a great gift for the drinkers in your family around Thanksgiving and Christmas.
It’s been great drinking this stuff with my Whiskey Wedge, too. I highly recommend you pick one up. You can check out our Whiskey Wedge review if you have any doubts.
To moonshine Mike, YOUR AN IGNORANT PIECE OF WORTHLESS TRASH. YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING EXCEPT NO FEMALE HUMAN WOULD EVER CONSIDER TALKING TO YOU SO O SHUT THE HELL UP AND PUT THE BOOZE AWAY YOU ASSHOLE. THANKS
I substituted Fireball for Captain Morgan. It turns out great!
I’m in Ontario… Any advice on what alcohol to use since we cant buy Everclear here?
(I was also thinking of using Fireball instead of the rum.)
How do I get the 180 proof plus.i can only get 150.
WTF did I just read? There is just soooo much BS in the article itself as well as in the comments. Godamn people are dumb as a box of rocks!
First off, moonshine has NEVER been 100% Illegal in the United States of America not even during the Prohibition period! And since the Prohibition ended all anyone has had to do where it was or is illegal was pay the extra taxes, purchase an annual distillers license, and follow the state and local laws while distilling and transporting. How The Hell Do You Think Famous Distilleries Such As JACK DANIEL’S Got Started?
Second… I don’t care how much everclear or other brand liquors you buy or how many times you boil (boil it? FFS) it to make your fruity cocktail you ignorantly call “Moonshine” it is never legally allowed to be considered moonshine by and or anyone’s definition because first you NEVER made any of it yourself, it’s still just store bought, and by any and all Bartenders Definition it is in FACT JUST A DAMN •COCKTAIL• NO MATTER WHAT YOU MOTHER/SISTER (whatever you want to consider your inbred family) tells you as she’s giving you a lapdance at your family picnic. It’ll ALWAYS be just a Chick Drink called a COCKtail!
SMFH I don’t think you people are drinking clean distilled pure alcohol anyways with that type of ignorance…
Happy Holidays to ALL! (Yes even to the inbreds)…
I used the bottles that the liqueur was in and 12 QT jars but all the captain Morgan and everclear in the moonshine with cinnamon powder and sticks . Put in freezer still have some from last Christmas.
I’m seeing alot of these questions on here but no answers.
1. What’s the best way to store this?
2. What is the shelf life of kept in the fridge
3. Do you age it at room temperature or in the fridge and for how long?
I had some of this for the first time tonight at a BBQ and WOW!! It’s amazing. I can’t wait to make it myself.
It’s pure alcohol no need for shelf life it’ll never sit there long enough to go bad
Have to try this what’s the shelf life at room temperature
I accidentally added the alcohol to the mixture before boiling it . Can I still go ahead with it? What do I need to do to save it.
I made this tonight. I used home.made corn shine 130proof. 2.5 liters. I did not add any capt Morgan’s. All other ingredients to a T. Made 10 Quart jars. And it turned out amazing. Flavour was spot on. We enjoyed 4 quarts tonight between 4 of us. 1 quart each and was great. I wouldn’t change a thing.
–Sotol Moonshine–
Now this stuff is some fucked up shit. There was a time 30 years ago when I lived along the Mexican border near Big Bend and every now and then I’d go to a place called Kingston Hot Springs (now called Chinati Hot Springs). One night I decided to go there, chill out, take a HOT bath and hang out with my friend who owned the place. I called and reserved a cabin for the weekend. I knew things weren’t going to go well when I smashed an owl and ground it into the grill of my truck.
Anyway, so I get there and it’s pitch black and get out of my truck and the next sign things were gonna get fucked up his shitty little terrier runs up barking and bites the back of my fucking leg! Goddamnit! He brings me in his dining room patches up my bleeding leg and goes and gets this ‘jerry can’ and two glass ‘thimbles’.
‘What the fuck is this?’ I asked while putting band-aids on where his fucking dog bit me. Now my friend is a 6’7″ huge ex-marine and he tells me it’s sotol moonshine.and I laugh almost falling out of my chair! ‘Why the two pussy shot glasses then?’. ‘Um…you’ll see, you little twerp.’ and he pours this greenish clear liquid into the ‘shot glasses’, we make a toast and knock that shit back. YUMMY! That shit was so smooth, somewhat firey and went down like it was silk with hardly any kick. He asked if I wanted another and fuckin’ A you bet I did this stuff was badass juice.
‘A Mexican family comes over every now and then to spend the weekend and they pay for the cabin with 10 gallons of sotol moonshine.’ and I knock back a 3rd shot. I’m beginning to feel even warmer on this hot summer night. Then he tells me that I really need to respect this stuff and I guzzle a 4th shot.
After the 6th shot I swear I’m starting to hallucinate and seein’ naked chicks and he won’t pour me any more of this hairy stuff. We talk a little more and I tell him to show me where my cabin is. Holy Shite I stand up very unsteady and fall ass-backwards and my friend catches me and walks me to the cabin.
Sotol is a yucca like plant that grows everywhere around here and is very similar to agave azul that they make tequila from only sotol grows in Chihuahua. If you can ever some of this nasty shit in Chihuahua you’re in for quite a night running around naked, howling like a rabid dog and pissing in the middle of the highway.
Just sayin’
So we followed the receipt to the tee with the exception of the rum and ended up with 23 1/2, 16oz jars. We’re not complaining by any means because it turnedd out awesome!!!! Just wanted to let anyone that uses the receipt know that you’ll need more jars than what’s listed. Next time we’re going to try half the batch with Capt. Morgan.
sorry about the double post- am trying a large batch for my birthday party…. wanted to see what you thought.
I’d love your thoughts…
Amoroso’s Christmas Apple Pie.
Ingredients :
* 1 1/2 gallon shine
* 1 gallon of Captain Morgan 100 proof spiced rum
* 1/2 cinnamon whisky (optional)
* 3 gallons of apple cider (kind with lots of pulp)
* 3 gallons of apple juice
* 3 cup of white sugar
* 3 cup of brown sugar
* 15 cinnamon sticks
* 10 cloves
* 3 table spoons allspice
* 3 table spoons nutmeg
* 2 cans of apple juice concentrate (optional)
Directions:
* Boil sugars with cider and juice with spices and sticks, LET COOL as cooling add concentrate then mix in copious amounts of alcohol.
* Fuji apples slices 8 per quart, 4 per pint, 2 for a 1/2 pint and a cinnamon stick in each mason jar
* Will make about 10 gallons of apple pie
* For the left overs- fill jar with apple slices and shine a cinnamon stick and clove or two
* Let set for a few weeks if possible longer it sets the better it gets
***SIDE NOTE***
To quicken the curing process by vigorously shaking the jars- twice daily for a week seems to equal a month of settling
Amoroso’s Christmas Apple Pie.
Ingredients :
* 1 gallon shine
* 1/2 gallon of Captain Morgan 100 proof spiced rum
* 1/5 cinnamon whisky (optional)
* 1 1/2 gallon of apple cider (kind with lots of pulp)
* 1 1/2 gallon of apple juice
* 3 cup of white sugar
* 3 cup of brown sugar
* 10 cinnamon sticks
* 15 cloves
* 4 table spoons of apple pie spice
*2 cans of apple juice concentrate
Directions:
* Boil sugars with cider and juice with spices and sticks, LET COOL as cooling add concentrate then mix in copious amounts of alcohol.
* apples slices and a cinnamon stick in each mason jar
* Will make about 5 gallons of apple pie
* For the left overs- fill jar with apple slices and shine a cinnamon stick and clove or two
* Let set for a few weeks if possible longer it sets the better it gets
What would the proof be for one jar?
Hot damn, that’s some good stuff. First time making apple pie shine and it turned out great. Thanks for the recipe!
How long will this stay good / safe to drink without sealing the jars?
you got to be fucking nuts, If I had a lot of money I could buy this shit, I’m poor, got tons of crab apples and all I want to do Is make VODKA/SHINE. I think you drank too much your off topic
Because I let it cool to room temperature the jars didn’t seal I was wondering how long on the shelf the last without the jars been sealed
I’m pretty sure James meant quart jars rather than pint jars. I made this recipe and got almost exactly 12 quart jars.
You will need 20 pint mason jars for this recipe. This recipe comes out to 322 ounces. 322/16= 20.13.
I made it ? But had a full gallon left over after filling 12 /16 oz added twice cut ounce ! What’s the deal ?
Also I keep mine at room temp. The longer it sits The better it taste.
I’ve been making my recipe for over 5 years now. I supply a few famous rock bands and comedians and they say it’s TheBest they ever tasted. The trick to mine its Real Moonshine. I distill to 180 proof. Then add that to 1 gallon apple cider and 1/2 gallon apple juice than cinnamon sticks,white sugar brown sugar vanilla and a couple secret spices I only add a quart of shine to this and it comes out perfect every time
When you did the recipe, did the jar tops seal? Do the jars need to be refrigerated?
So just a thought as I read some of your wonderful post with a vocabulary just like mine. I’ve been thinking about whipping up a batch of Apple peye and was curious have you fellas or anyone you know ever used say fireball cinnamon whiskey rather than cpt. Spiced rum. Thank you.
If you don’t like the pulp, as most don’t, you can use a bar strainer. It’s a metal mesh strainer that works much faster than a coffee filter. Can be hard to find sometimes, but always available at a restaurant depot in your area.
Do you keep it refrigerated? Being the apple juice and apple cider? I’ve made this a few times and always kept it stored in the fridge but it taste much better at room temp or warmed a little bit.
Does this need to be refrigerated ?
you need to edit your recipe ……12-16 oz. are you sure ???? I still have a 1/4 of a stock pot left of shine???
Just finished my first batch!. I made homemade cider first so mine is meant to be cloudy. So far so good!
How long is shelf time for this ? I want to make some but afraid it will go bad
I call my Apple Pie “Kentucky Country style. ” Have you ever noticed the ouzzy stuff In an Apple PIE? It’s all the flavors and spices. And it settles to the bottom of my jars. I label them”SHAKE WELL to dissolve the spices and flavors.” I add cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, vanilla, and almond extract, I ” flavor” to taste. Remember, it’s “Country Style” Down home and original.
The recipe calls for 2 liters of 190 proof is there a different recipe for 151 proof
How strong is the taste of alcohol in this. I had apple pie years ago and couldn’t taste the alcohol at all. I loved it and want to make it for myself.
How long can it last? I have a batch that I forgot about for almost 2 years now that I just found today and am interested in drinking that sweet fire. Is it ok to drink since it has apple cider in it?
I’ve been making the same recipe for a long time. The only thing I’ve changed recently is rather the the captain I put either Jim Beam honey or Jack Daniel honey. It just adds another layer of sweet in there. And I also tend to go 2-3 cups brown one cup white on the sugar. Also you can filter through a few coffee filters if you want that golden brown not so cloudy look but I leave it in.
If you are neat freak and don’t like floaters in your drink…. filter though coffee filters to get out big chunks. lol Little floaters never killed me and adds character… imo
Some whole allspice in boiling mixture adds some good flavor…ground allspice will work. I don’t mind ground spices floating around. Havent tried it but cloves or nutmeg might be good also.. might try them on next batch.
I would like to know how your end result is that beautiful, clear jar of liquid fire if you use apple cider with lots of pulp. When I made this, it was very cloudy and had lots of sediment that eventually settled at the bottom of the jars. Did you filter out this pulp and, if so, how?
12 16 ounce or 12 32 once jars for the amount?
If you are interested in making moonshine you should check out: http://www.distillingliquor.com/2014/12/28/how-to-make-moonshine-2/