Many believe that we need to be obligated to Peter the First appearance of strong alcohol, which he brought from Europe to Russia. Like, before the beginning of the 18th century there were no such drinks in the country at all. One cannot agree with this fundamentally. The process of fermentation and distillation was known even under Ivan the Terrible. Then, the process of making the “invigorating potion” was treated with special respect, observing all the manufacturing technology using secret ingredients, thanks to which the drink turned out to be as pure as a tear. Due to the high cost of moonshine, only the highest ranks and nobles could “drive” it, while local “poverty” could only be content with a brega of its own preparation. Today, many secrets of cleaning a freshly brewed drink are forgotten. Although there are still some that are still used by those who know how to drive moonshine. How to clean with potassium permanganate, for example, everyone knows in any village in Russia.
The history of moonshine: from antiquity to modernity
Moonshine - the very name implies action - to drive, both literally and figuratively. At different times, he was persecuted: it was banned, sold only to the rich, was made from such a burd that when it was used, people died.
But the beginning of moonshine was encouraging: as far back as the 14th century in Russia, people revealed that fruits or vegetables left in a warm place for a long time can rot, releasing carbon dioxide and forming a weak degree of alcohol. Subsequently, it was revealed that when this substance is heated and “distilled”, the output is a “royal” drink. It was also experimentally proved that the use of wheat or rye grains as raw materials significantly improved the taste and quality of moonshine. Regarding the issue of “purity” of the drink, in those days, crystallinity was given increased importance: from 1 ton of raw materials, only 30 liters of pure moonshine were obtained.
Over the centuries, cooking processes have been improved. Towards the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century Russia has become a producer of the best and most delicious moonshines that were in all of Europe: they were presented to ambassadors and nobles, sold to foreign merchants and merchants, treated important guests and to know.
Today, processes have accelerated, and special claims are made to quality: people want fortress and a “blow to the head”. To the question of whether it is necessary to clean the moonshine, today it is necessary to say in the affirmative: “It is absolutely necessary, and it is better to do it in several ways at once.
Essential ingredients for making a drink
What is good moonshine? Strength, crystallinity or taste? Or healing properties? The answer is to all of the above. In addition, the drink has truly miraculous qualities:
- they can be rubbed with a cold;
- disinfect (do not be surprised, moonshine can be up to 96 degrees, the main thing is to be able to “drive” it);
- use as an aperitif for better digestion of food.
Moonshine can be produced from any raw material. The essence of the matter is that this drink, unique in all respects, leading in all respects over others (whiskey, cognac, bourbon, brandy, tequila, rum, grappa), can “chase” from almost all available “materials”:
- berries;
- fruit;
- vegetables;
- cereals;
- jam, jam, honey;
- dairy products;
- wine, juices, kvass;
- bakery products;
- many other
That is, only those ingredients that are subject to the fermentation process are needed. And the indispensable and most important finalizer of everything is sugar, which helps speed up the fermentation process. The main thing is that the products are high-quality and natural, then the best moonshine will be obtained. How to clean with potassium permanganate or other methods? About this in the next section.
Aspects from the manufacturing process: from mash to the final product
Each self-respecting moonshiner has at his disposal special equipment for the production of this divine drink at home:
- distillation cube - an iron (preferably stainless steel) vessel that serves to heat the mash;
- coil - serves to cool the vapor;
- copper tubes - necessary to connect the cube with the coil.
The production process of moonshine includes the following steps:
- Preparation of the basis for the future drink - mash.
- Heating the latter and its distillation with the help of a specialized cube, after which it will turn into a final product.
- Purification of fusel oils.
- Removal of odors.
Many people want to clean it of impurities and odors after receiving moonshine. Question: "How to clean moonshine with potassium permanganate?" - in principle, is set regularly in various forums and pages. To do this, you need freshly brewed moonshine and potassium permanganate, and several stages of action. But besides the latter, there are still many ways to painlessly and easily remove all unnecessary “particles” from the drink.
The easiest way to remove fusel oils
Having driven out the moonshine, many calm down and rejoice at the resulting drink. But if life and your health are dear to you, you should bring what you started to the end. To clear a drink of all impurities and fusel oils is necessary without delay and a shadow of doubt. Many of the proposed methods (for example, how to properly clean moonshine with potassium permanganate) or heard recipes are not always convenient and partly costly.
The easiest option to remove all excess from moonshine is freezing. The following ingredients are required:
- freezer;
- moonshine;
- vessel.
Thanks to severe frost, all fusel oils and excess fluid will freeze, and real and pure moonshine will remain. As a result, removing the waste, you get a crystal clear and delicious drink.
Potassium permanganate: one of the best ways to clean moonshine
How to clean with potassium permanganate? It’s easier and better not to find a method! To do this, you should go to the pharmacy (if you are not at home) and purchase manganese powder, which will help moonshine to expel all undesirable neighbors from its composition.
The composition is as follows: for 1 liter of freshly brewed moonshine, only 2-3 grams of manganese will be required.
Pouring it into a bottle, you need to shake the contents well - the drink will acquire a characteristic pink-red color. Then leave the vessel alone (preferably a place devoid of sunlight) for 1-2 days. After time, a sediment forms at the bottom of the bottle, which has collected all the "extra" consistency.
To improve the effect, you can also, after adding manganese to the vessel, put the latter on a steam bath in a low heat (for 20 minutes). Then strain through cotton. The drink is clean and ready to drink!
The most practical and effective way to clean using soda
After distillation, moonshine usually has a sharp and not so pleasant smell, which completely discourages any desire to taste it. To get rid of the annoying notes of stench, you should clean the drink with soda. How to clean moonshine with soda is a simple task, and its process is quite pleasant and uncomplicated.
To do this, you will need:
- 10-15 grams of soda.
- 1 liter of freshly brewed moonshine.
- Free time and patience.
It is necessary to stir the specified amount of drink and soda, after which do not touch for 40 minutes. Next, you should again shake the vessel with moonshine, leaving the contents in the dishes for a longer period - 12-24 hours.
After the end of the specified time, the drink is cleaned perfectly. It is necessary to remove the top layer (on average it is 2-3 cm of unsuitable liquid for drinking) and sediment (soda and fusel oils, impurities). What remains between the upper layer and the lower one is purified moonshine, which will be clean as a tear and with a neutral smell.
As a result, the task of how to clean moonshine with soda has been solved, and its procedure will not take much time and money. Soda can be purchased at any grocery store, its price is ridiculously low. Because of what, this cleaning method is one of the most budgetary.
Charcoal cleaning as the most environmentally friendly method
The use of natural products (environmentally friendly and safe) is the best way to clean moonshine from impurities and harmful oils. One such method is the use of charcoal.
This is one of the oldest and most proven methods, since there have always been a lot of forests in Russia, and Russians have always been able to use the benefits of nature.
So how to clean moonshine with charcoal? Certain stages and procedures should be followed in which he loses all the negative, ennobled to the level of a "royal" drink.
Stage 1 - you need to get coal. To do this, find suitable wood, preferably fresh, green. It is better to give preference to linden and birch. Having chosen the required number of branches (it is better to take trees no older than half a century), it is necessary to light a fire. After heating, hot coals should be put in any dishes with a lid, and leave to cool completely. Next, you need to crush the coals to a shallow state.
Stage 2 - preparation of the ingredients:
- Charcoal - 100 grams;
- Moonshine - 1 liter.
After mixing the liquid with the component, the vessel should be placed in a dark place and left for 7 days. Note: you need to shake the vessel at least 4 times a day. After the expiration of the period, you need to leave the vessel in complete rest for one more week.
Stage 3 - straining moonshine with gauze or cotton wool.
Cleaning moonshine from foul odors
Many moonshiners, “drove”, in their opinion, a wonderful drink, are subsequently upset - there are strange oils in the strong substance, and the smell is so sharp that the nose does not stand up to such a test. If you do not know how to get rid of such "neighbors", then all products will be unsuitable for further consumption. Why the next question: "How to clean the moonshine from the smell?" - very relevant.
First you need to clean the drink from clouding and oils. After going through this stage, you can use numerous spices to refine moonshine. Among them, they are especially respected: fennel, mint, vanilla, allspice or red, walnut partitions, fresh horseradish root, cramming, oak bark.
You can also use the ancient method of cleaning moonshine from the smell, which was used in Russia. It will take 50 grams of violet root, 500 grams of ordinary black raisins (white will not work). Pour into a vessel with moonshine, keep in a dark place for at least 30 days. After the expiration, strain through cotton wool several times. The drink will lose all its smells and tastes, saturated with pleasant aromas of violets and grapes.
Benefits of Using Cleaning
Any product made even from the most environmentally friendly ingredients can contain harmful impurities and particles that can harm the human body. How is that? In natural products during their processing (chemical or other), harmful substances are released. For this, a cycle of removal of all harmful substances from the final product should be performed.
So, during the initial “race”, the “pervak” comes out - the dirtiest and strongest moonshine. In no case should it be mixed with the subsequent drink after it. Only delete!
Today there are a huge number of ways to clean moonshine from impurities and odors. You just need to follow simple tips, and then the drink will be clean and safe.
Beginner moonshiners often doubt whether it is harmful to clean moonshine with potassium permanganate? This method is very old and proven, so that the consumer will not receive any negative effect on the body. On the contrary, moonshine will be cleansed, will take the best look.
Numerous ways to improve the drink only prove that from the nasty "mash" you can get a first-class and crystal drink.
Storage methods: from temperature to a specific place
To expel moonshine is not so bad. Next, you need to clean it of impurities and a pungent odor that can scare off even the most persistent. According to the recommendations of specialists, it is necessary to clean the moonshine with potassium permanganate and soda immediately after its “distillation”. But the process does not end there. Its taste and general condition directly depend on the storage conditions and the container in which it will be located.
So, you need to exclude the following containers from storage methods:
- plastic bottles;
- wooden barrels (if you do not want to get cognac);
- metal vessels (aluminum, copper, steel).
Only glass, ceramic bottles, jars or vessels may be used. Some also use stainless barrels for storage.
As for temperature, it does not play any role: both with minus and with plus drops, the drink does not lose its properties.
Moonshine, according to most experienced producers, gets better at high degrees. It is even recommended that it be corked in a bottle and put in the attic of a house (where in the summer it is more than 40 degrees higher) for 10 years. During this time, the drink will change, turning into nectar.
You should also exclude places where direct sunlight.
Reviews and tips for beginners from experienced moonshine drivers
The alcoholic beverage must be natural and of high quality. To do this, it is not necessary to buy imported vodka or whiskey. You can make your own with a little effort and desire. You should also stock up on the necessary literature, or learn from experts all the subtleties and nuances of all stages of manufacture.
It is especially worth paying attention to the question of how to clean moonshine from impurities, since health is more important than any experiment. Old craftsmen are advised to remove fusel oils and unpleasant odors in proven ways. It is worth using charcoal, soda, potassium permanganate, milk, the method of freezing, and to saturate with a pleasant aroma, you can infuse the drink on various spices and herbs.
Moonshine is a regular at any feast, not only in villages and villages: many people appreciate and love it, regardless of status and age. In order for a drink to please with its bouquet and taste, one should know how to clean the moonshine from the smell on its own if its producers missed this process.