Shop update #8 (1-3-18) Apple Pie Moonshine

This past weekend was New Year’s eve and it was all about friends and family.  I didn’t even try to get out to the shop but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t make anything.  I just didn’t make anything out of wood.

On Friday night I made Apple Pie Moonshine for the first time.  Let me preface this with the fact that I live in Southern California and I didn’t make real moonshine, just pretend moonshine.

I had it a few years ago at a Truck Run and wanted to try making it myself but forgot all about it until now.  I googled the recipe and mixed a few up to make my own.  I made it in 2 batches, 1 with Everclear (California 151 proof.  You can buy it in Arizona at 190 proof.) and Fireball (66 proof) and 1 with Everclear and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum (92 proof).

I started with a gallon of Apple Juice, a gallon of Apple Cider, a package of Cinnamon Sticks, a package of Cloves, white granulated sugar, dark brown sugar, a 750 ML bottle of Everclear, a 375 ML bottle of Fireball and a 375 ML bottle of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum.

I put half a gallon of cider and half a gallon of juice in a large pot and brought it to a boil.  I then added 1 cup of brown sugar and 3/4 cup of white sugar and stirred them until they dissolved.  I took it down to a simmer and added 2 cinnamon sticks and 1 clove.  I let it simmer for 1 hour and then turned off the heat and let it cool for 30 mins.  I then added 375 ML of Everclear and 375 ML of Fireball.  I let them cool completely and then put it all into Mason Jars and put them in the refrigerator.  I repeated the steps above but substituted the Fireball with about 200 ML of the Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum.

I took 3 bottle of each with me to a New Year’s Eve party and it was a great hit!  The important thing is to keep it on ice until right before you pour it.  It is best served cold.  I gave one bottle to the host of the party and kept another bottle at home.  It’s supposed to get better after time so we are going to open them at a SuperBowl party and test it out.

On Saturday we went to my parent’s house and added a deck to the clubhouse that my dad built for the grandkids about 5 years ago.

We went to the NYE party on Sunday night and then my older son and I made dessert in my new Dutch Oven for our annual New Year’s Day meal.  It is called Chocolate Lovers Delight and we found the recipe on dutchovenmania.com