A friend said that whiskey is the most ordinary moonshine, only dyed with oak: I explain what the difference is and why he is wrong

At one of the meetings with friends, we had an argument. The question was about whisky. My friend said that this is our same moonshine. In my opinion, he was fundamentally wrong. The dispute flared up in earnest. It’s good that we were not alone and our friends calmed us down and separated us.

But I don’t understand how it is possible to compare an elite drink with that sivukha, which is often prepared in some incomprehensible conditions, for no reason. And here are my arguments on the matter.

Story from subscriber Oleg Dmitrievich.

What is whiskey

For the first time this drink is mentioned in Ireland. Therefore, this country can be considered his homeland. But Scotland is not far behind. There is constant debate about which country is exactly considered the progenitor of whiskey. But I don’t think it’s that important anymore.

I personally was given a bottle of Chivas Regal (18 years old) for 40 years. For me it was the best present. May my wife forgive me.

With regards to cooking, only cereals are used for this. For example, rye, wheat, barley. It all starts with the malting process, which turns into fermentation. After the distillation is carried out.

The resulting liquid is poured into oak barrels and stored for at least 3 years. Only then can this drink be considered whiskey.

In addition to Scotland and Ireland, whiskey is produced in Japan, France, Canada, the USA and other countries. This drink is quite well known in a wide circle and is considered elite. Because of this, it has a relatively high cost.

Important! American whiskey has its own name “bourbon”.

What is moonshine

This is the name of a strong alcoholic drink that was made at home. Something similar is being prepared all over the planet, but in our area the word “moonshine” appeared only at the beginning of the XNUMXth century. By the way, I learned that, earlier, this word was used by hunters when they drove the beast.

The moonshine process begins with the manufacture of mash. It can be made from cereals, potatoes, beets, fruits. True, for fermentation, you still need to add sugar. After this, the mash is distilled and moonshine is obtained.

I know all this thanks to the fact that my grandfather once dabbled in this business, of course, for his own use. That nasty smell has ingrained itself into my soul for the rest of my life, and I feel only disgust from it.

At the end, several cleaning cycles can be carried out. Many people neglect this. But if this is done, then moonshine will be less harmful. That’s basically all the most important, in my opinion, what you need to know about this alcohol.

Important! For its manufacture, a home-made apparatus is often used.

Differences between them

In fact, there are plenty of them. There is only one similarity – this is the distillation process. As you can see, only grains are used to make whiskey. Moonshine in this regard is universal.

There are differences in the fortress. For example, whiskey mostly contains 35-50% alcohol, although there are also 60%. But moonshine happens, and 80% do it. However, I do not understand how you can drink this.

They also differ in color. Initially, both liquids are transparent, however, moonshine can be cloudy. But here the whiskey acquires a peculiar shade (from light yellow to brown) from oak barrels. It is also worth understanding that you can drink moonshine almost immediately after preparation, but there is no whiskey.

But recalling the statements of my friend, I now radically disagree with him. Especially if you take into account the word “moonshine” in our understanding. Whiskey production is a whole production, in which many specialists participate. A local grandmother can also drive moonshine.

Important! The production of moonshine in many countries is punishable by law.

And how to drink whiskey and moonshine

I want to say that this is purely my opinion. Moonshine, it’s just a strong smelly liquid. True, the hangover from it can be easier, especially if it has been cleared. Whiskey acquires a special taste and aroma due to aging in barrels. The taste is naturally richer and softer.

This is clearly seen against the background of how it is customary to consume these drinks. Moonshine is drunk in piles and in one gulp. But whiskey in glasses and small sips. If you make a choice, then I choose whiskey.

But you should also understand that these are completely different costs. Moonshine will be much cheaper. But I think that it is not a pity to pay money for a good drink.

Now I look forward to the next meeting with a friend to continue our argument. I am armed with knowledge and will be able to argue my words. Here’s what got me interested. Who thought of aging alcohol in barrels?

Was it an accident or was it a measured decision? It is worth recognizing that this is a good, but surprising technique. If anyone knows this story, please share with us. How did people come to this conclusion? And why exactly oak? It is very interesting.

Dear readers, remember that alcohol abuse harms your body. Take care of yourself!