Inexpensive
One notable reason why so many moonshiners prefer to use corn is because of its inexpensive price. Purchasing a $1 bag of corn at the local farmer’s market could yield $100-$200 worth of moonshine back in the late 1800s. Now that’s a nice return on investment! Although the price of corn has risen over the years, it’s still a relatively inexpensive ingredient, especially when compared to some of the alternatives used to produce moonshine. It’s doubtful that a moonshiner will earn 100-200x more on their moonshine than what he or she paid for the corn, but it’s still a nice return that keeps people coming back to this industry.
Readily Available
Corn, as you probably know, is readily available throughout nearly all of North America. Certain rural regions may have a lower quantity than metro areas, but it’s a readily available commodity that’s easy to acquire. Many people refer to corn as “yellow gold” because it’s used to produce so many different products, only one of which is moonshine. For instance, the renewable biofuel known as ethanol is produced from corn. And because so many products and items are made from corn, moonshiners have little-to-problem acquiring it.
High Sugar Content
Moonshine is made by converting sugars into alcohol with the help of yeast. The grains are added and cooked to a certain temperature before the yeast is added. Once the yeast settles down into the mash, they begin to convert sugars into alcohol through the process of fermentation.
Corn is a popular ingredient for moonshine because of its exceptionally high sugar content. When compared to other grains, corn has a higher sugar content; thus, resulting in a higher alcohol per volume (APV) moonshine.
Nice Flavor
A fourth reason why corn is considered the “best” ingredient for moonshine is because of its flavor. When the mash is made right, corn-based moonshine possesses a light grainy flavor that most people enjoy. It’s mild and not pungent or overly bitter, which can’t be said for some batches of moonshine.
