Moonshining stands for one of the most exciting and rebellious eras in the history of spirits. The term refers to the clandestine distilling of alcohol, which was mainly practised in the USA during Prohibition, but also earlier in Europe. High taxes, government bans and strict controls led to farmers and private distillers producing their spirits under cover of darkness and distributing them via secret trade routes.
Numerous myths, legends and traditions surrounding moonshining date back to this time. Today, the term lives on - no longer as an illegal practice, but as a style that stands for clear, unaged whiskies and the art of distilling. A look at the history of moonshining shows how closely whisky, politics and smuggling are linked.
What is moonshine whisky?
The term moonshine refers to a high-proof, mostly un- or short-matured whisky or alcohol that was originally distilled illegally and secretly, often without state control and without paying excise duty. The historical meaning of the name comes from the English-speaking world, where distillation took place under the cover of moonlight in order to evade the authorities. Today, "moonshine" is often used for clear, unaged or short-aged spirits that tie in with this tradition - sometimes also as a legally produced product with a nostalgic or outlaw image.
Where does the name moonshine whisky come from?
The word moonshine originated in England in the 18th century and referred to activities that took place at night by the light of the moon to avoid the attention of tax and law enforcement authorities. This practice continued, particularly in the USA during the Prohibition era (1920-1933), when the production and sale of alcohol was banned and many farmers and settlers distilled their corn whiskey at night in the open air.
Excise Act
In the early years of Scotland's whisky history, legal whisky production in the Highlands was severely restricted. Many distilleries operated in secret, as remote regions were almost inaccessible to tax officials and the existing levies were considered too high, complicated andeconomically unsustainable. The turning point came in 1823 with the Excise Act . This Act significantly reduced the tax burden and set the duty at £10 per gallon. At the same time, the licence system was simplified, making legal whisky production attractive for the first time.
The reform quickly had an effect: within a few years, numerous distilleries were officially registered and legalised. For this reason, 1824 is often cited as the founding year of many traditional distilleries - even though the actual start of production was often much earlier. The Excise Act is still regarded as one of the most important milestones in whisky history, as it heralded the transition from moonshine to controlled, quality-orientated whisky production.
You can find out more about the historical development in our detailed article on whisky history.
Distilling whisky today
In most countries, the private distillation of whisky or moonshine is now only possible legally with a licence. In Germany, for example, distilling for private use is only permitted to a very limited extent (up to 0.5 litres/p.a.), above which an official licence is required. The same applies in the USA, the UK, Canada and other markets: no legal spirits production without a licence. Nevertheless, modern craft distilleries deliberately use the term moonshine as a stylistic device and market clear, unaged or flavoured spirits that are in the tradition of the historic moonshiners.
Regulations in different countries
If you are from a country that is not listed here, please send us an e-mail (info@whisky.com)
| Country | By law | Link to |
| USA | only with licence | TTB.gov |
| UK | only with licence | HMRC.gov.uk |
| Canada | with licence only | justice.gc.ca |
| Australia | with licence only | ato.gov.au |
| Germany | yes, up to a distillation volume of 0.5 litres. Over 0.5 L only with licence | zoll.de |
| New Zealand | yes, for private use only | customs.govt.nz |
| Ireland | only with licence | irishstatutebook.ie |
| Denmark | only with licence | retsinformation.dk |
Disclaimer:
Whisky.de does not promote illegal distillation. Nor is the legal information on this site binding in any way.
Conclusion
Moonshine is more than just a buzzword in the whisky cosmos: it stands for a mystical, historically evolved form of spirits production that arose out of resistance to high taxes and prohibitions. For connoisseurs today, moonshine means above all pure, clear intensity - without long barrel ageing, often with the character of a corn or grain whisky, which directly reflects the raw materials and the craft. While the old days of clandestine distilling sound romantic, a look at today's legal situation shows that legality and safety are always at the forefront of spirits production.
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