Moonshine sweet tea is a popular summertime beverage in the Southern United States that combines sweetened iced tea with illegally distilled corn liquor, also known as moonshine. The addition of moonshine gives the sweet tea an alcoholic kick. But how alcoholic is moonshine sweet tea and is it actually safe to drink?
What is Moonshine Sweet Tea?
Moonshine sweet tea is simply sweet iced tea that has been mixed with moonshine, which is an illegally produced distilled spirit made predominantly from corn mash. Traditional sweet tea is a non-alcoholic drink made by steeping black tea leaves in hot water together with a large amount of white sugar, then diluting with cool water and served chilled over ice. The origins of sweet tea can be traced back to the American South in the late 19th century. The addition of illicit corn whiskey gives the sweet tea a boozy twist.
The ratios of tea to moonshine can vary, with some recipes calling for just a splash of moonshine and others recommending a 50/50 mix. The end result is a pleasantly sweet and smooth drink with an alcohol content ranging from 5-50% ABV depending on the ratio used.
Is it Safe to Drink?
Drinking moonshine sweet tea comes with certain risks due to the unregulated production methods used to make moonshine:
- Contaminants – Lead, fusel oils, and other dangerous contaminants could be present in poorly made moonshine and can cause health issues if ingested.
- Ethanol toxicity – Excessive consumption of such a strong alcoholic beverage could result in alcohol poisoning.
- Masking of alcohol content – The sweet taste can hide the true alcohol percentage, increasing the chance of overconsumption.
However, when prepared using clean ingredients and consumed responsibly in moderation, moonshine sweet tea is generally considered safe to drink by health-conscious bootlegging enthusiasts.
Is it Legal?
The legality of drinking moonshine sweet tea depends on local liquor laws. While homebrewing beer and wine for personal use is often permitted, distilling spirits at home is illegal in the US due to federal regulations. Moonshine production also violates tax and licensing rules. Transporting or selling moonshine across state lines is a federal offense.
State laws also prohibit possession of unregistered distilled spirits. So drinking moonshine sweet tea would be considered an unlawful activity in most jurisdictions. However, enforcement tends to be rare for personal consumption in private settings.
Alcohol Percentage
The ethanol alcohol content of moonshine can vary wildly based on the production method, ranging from 30% to 95% ABV. Most illicit whiskey reaches around 60-70% ABV before dilution. With a 50/50 ratio of moonshine to sweet tea, the final alcohol percentage of moonshine sweet tea would be approximately 30-45% ABV.
By comparison, a typical light beer is around 4-5% ABV. So even at the lowest ratio, moonshine sweet tea would be nearly 8 times stronger than regular beer in terms of alcohol percentage. At the higher ratios, the drink becomes almost as potent as straight whiskey.
| Beverage | Typical ABV% |
|---|---|
| Beer | 4-5% |
| Wine | 11-15% |
| Moonshine | 30-95% |
| Moonshine Sweet Tea (50/50 ratio) | 15-47% |
How Many Standard Drinks?
Using the standard drink equivalent guidelines, we can estimate the number of standard drinks contained in a typical moonshine sweet tea:
- Standard drink = 14g pure alcohol
- Let’s assume 45% ABV moonshine
- 12oz moonshine sweet tea with 50/50 ratio
Calculations:
- 12 oz total liquid
- 50% is 6 oz moonshine
- 45% ABV means 45% of 6 oz is pure alcohol = 2.7 oz pure alcohol
- 2.7 oz is approximately 19g pure alcohol
- So there are roughly 1.4 standard drinks in 12oz of moonshine sweet tea
In comparison an average 12oz beer would contain about 1 standard drink. So moonshine sweet tea is 40% stronger than beer based on standard drink measures.
Effects on Blood Alcohol Level
Given the high alcohol concentration, even drinking a small amount of moonshine sweet tea can lead to intoxication and raise blood alcohol levels quickly:
- 12oz could produce mild impairment legally considered under the influence
- 24oz could result in binge drinking blood alcohol levels
- Much more could potentially cause alcohol poisoning
Always drink responsibly and measure quantities carefully. Do not drive or operate machinery after consuming moonshine sweet tea. The sweetness helps mask the true strength of the drink, so be very careful of inadvertent overconsumption.
Hangover Effects
The higher the alcohol content, the worse the next day’s hangover symptoms will be. Moonshine sweet tea can pack a painful punch:
- Severe headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue and dizziness
- Stomach pain and diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Irritability and anxiety
Raising alcohol content from 5% beer to 30-40% moonshine intensifies the hangover exponentially. Hydrate well in advance and take it slow if you want to wake up feeling human the next day.
Taste
The corn-forward flavor of moonshine pairs surprisingly well with sweet tea’s malty profile. The sugar masks some of the harshness of raw distilled spirits for a smooth sipping experience. The sweet and fruity notes complement the subtle peach and oak tastes of aged corn whiskey.
Some describe moonshine sweet tea as tasting like an alcoholic Arnold Palmer. The tea provides tannic structure while the moonshine gives a warming alcoholic bite and modest herbal complexity from the corn mash ingredients.
Overall, moonshine sweet tea is a delicious contradictions – sweet yet potent, refreshing yet intoxicating. The taste is widely appealing across generations looking for a touch of nostalgia and extra kick during hot summer months.
Origin and History
Moonshine sweet tea brings together two different traditions – illicit Appalachian distilling and Southern hospitality.
Sweet tea originated at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair when English tea merchant Richard Blechynden found his hot tea wasn’t selling well in the heat. He started pouring it over ice, and after adding lots of sugar to mask the bitterness, the new cold beverage was a hit.
Moonshine has its roots in the Whiskey Rebellion of the 1790s when farmers protested a new tax on distilled spirits. Many moved production from commercial stills into hidden locations giving rise to moonshine’s long association with bootlegging and speakeasies during Prohibition.
The idea to combine these two historic drinks into moonshine sweet tea is often credited to “Popcorn” Sutton, a famous moonshiner from Maggie Valley, North Carolina who trafficked his signature “Popcorn Sutton’s Tennessee White Whiskey” throughout the South in the 1970s and 80s.
The profile and folk hero status of bootleggers like Popcorn helped popularize the rebellious image of moonshine sweet tea as the unofficial drink of Dixie.
Where to Enjoy Moonshine Sweet Tea
Classic moonshine sweet tea is predominantly a homemade brew due to the illegality of unlicensed liquor production. Recipes are often passed down generationally along with small batch distilling knowledge. Families may enjoy mason jars of moonshine sweet tea at weekend get-togethers and summer BBQs in a nod to their bootlegging forebears.
However, some Southern bars and restaurants offer moonshine sweet tea cocktails on their menus using legally-produced corn whiskey rather than raw backwoods hooch. Ole Smoky Moonshine in Gatlinburg, Tennessee serves a variety of flavored moonshine sweet teas made with their officially registered grain spirits.
Culinarily-inclined tourists can also book slots on the Ole Smoky distillery tour to learn about the modern moonshine-making process before sitting down to sample a complimentary mason jar of genuine Tennessee moonshine sweet tea in the company tasting room. Novices should sip cautiously though, as this is the real deal!
Conclusion
Moonshine sweet tea stands out as a uniquely Southern libation fusing together bootleg whiskey heritage and regional iced tea charm. The illicit overtones make it an alluring forbidden fruit for thrill-seeking imbibers. However, the dangers of unregulated hooch production demand smart moderation. Sipped responsibly though, this sweet tea packs a delectably rebellious punch!