Moonshine

Buy Moonshine Online – Corn Whiskey & White Dog

Moonshine — unaged or minimally aged corn whiskey — is one of America's oldest spirit traditions, born in the Appalachian Mountains long before Kentucky bourbon defined the American whiskey category. Today's commercial moonshine brings that heritage into legal, well-crafted form: clear or lightly aged corn spirit with bold grain character and a history rooted in rebellion. Wooden Cork ships the full moonshine selection nationwide.

What Is Moonshine?

Legally, moonshine is an unaged or minimally aged American whiskey made primarily from corn. It's often called "white dog" or "new make" in distillery parlance — the clear spirit that comes off the still before it goes into a barrel. Most moonshine is bottled at 80–100 proof. Flavored expressions (apple pie, peach, blackberry) have expanded the category significantly, bringing in drinkers who might not otherwise reach for straight whiskey. The connection to bourbon is direct: most bourbon starts life as unaged corn whiskey before entering the barrel.

Top Moonshine Producers

Ole Smoky Distillery from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is the most widely recognized commercial moonshine brand — their original corn whiskey and flavored expressions (peach, apple pie, blue flame) have defined the modern moonshine category. Tim Smith's Climax Moonshine carries genuine Appalachian heritage — Tim Smith was a real moonshiner featured on the television show "Moonshiners" before going legal. Junior Johnson's Midnight Moon is another authentic legacy brand rooted in North Carolina moonshine tradition.

Moonshine vs. Bourbon

Both moonshine and bourbon start from a corn-heavy grain bill, but bourbon must be aged in new charred oak barrels and cannot enter the barrel at more than 125 proof. Moonshine skips the aging entirely — what you taste is the raw grain character of the distillate without any barrel modification. The result is bolder, rougher, and more overtly corn-forward than even entry-level bourbon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is moonshine legal to buy?

Yes — commercial moonshine sold by licensed distilleries is completely legal. The term "moonshine" historically referred to illegally produced untaxed spirits, but today's commercial expressions are federally regulated, produced in licensed distilleries, and taxed like any other spirit category.

What does moonshine taste like?

Unaged corn moonshine is clear, bold, and grain-forward — strong corn sweetness, raw alcohol heat, and a clean finish without the caramel, vanilla, or oak notes that barrel aging adds. Flavored moonshines (apple pie, peach, blackberry) are significantly more approachable and sweeter.

How strong is moonshine?

Most commercial moonshine is bottled between 80–100 proof (40–50% ABV), similar to standard whiskey. Some high-proof expressions reach 150 proof or higher. "Blue flame" or "firewater" style expressions are generally the strongest.

Do you offer gift wrapping for moonshine?

Yes — gift wrapping and gift boxes are available at checkout. Browse our full American whiskey collection for related styles.