National Moonshine Day is just around the corner on June 5th and Firefly Spirits wanted to share a bit about how moonshine is embedded in their history. The South Carolina-based company currently offers seven different flavors of their Moonshine, from blackberry and peach to strawberry and white lightning.
For some, the word “moonshine” may evoke images of the strong, scandalous spirit that entertained mountain folks for centuries. For others, the historic hooch may trigger thoughts of harmless late night summer sipping. For Firefly Spirits founders Jim Irvin and Scott Newitt, it meant both. The mysterious process of distilling illegal moonshine instilled a curiosity for fermentation in Jim, a Kentucky native who spent time spying on moonshiners in the woods growing up, and Scott, a Louisiana local, who enjoyed moonshine like many other Southerners before him. Fast forward to 2013, Irvin and Newitt had become successful distillers and saw great potential in moonshine as an honestly delicious, safe, and legal drink. So, they perfected the traditional White Lightning, then moved on to creating six other flavors inspired by the Southern palate including Apple Pie, Blackberry, Caramel, Cherry, Peach, and Strawberry. They made the alcohol by volume as low as 20.55% for some and as high as 50.35%, for others, breaking the notion that moonshine is required to be extremely intoxicating. By making moonshine drinkable and delightful, Irvin and Newitt bridged the gap between the intriguing backwoods barrels and comforting homebrew to the desirable and popular moonshines that now fill craft cocktails in bars and restaurants around the country. To celebrate National Moonshine Day, Firefly provided Holy City Sinner with the following recipes: Blackberry Mule (pictured above) Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Blackberry Moonshine
- .5 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice
- 5 oz. ginger beer
- Several blackberries
Preparation: Using a cocktail shaker, add the blackberries and using a muddler, muddle the berries until well smashed. Add Firefly Blackberry Moonshine and lime juice; shake vigorously. Pour over ice and top with ginger beer.
Paradise Paloma
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz White Lightning Moonshine
- 1 oz Stirrings Simple Paloma Cocktail Mix
- Club Soda
- Grapefruit for garnish
Preparation: Pour in Firefly White Lightning Moonshine and Stirrings Simple Paloma Cocktail Mix to a glass with ice. Stir to combine. Top with club soda until full, stirring a final time to combine. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge and enjoy! According to CrystalMixer.com, you can make a Paloma Recipe in many different variations. Have a look at their amazing recipe collection.
Zing Cherry
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 parts Cherry Moonshine
- 3 parts Dr. Pepper®
- Maraschino cherry garnish
Preparation: Combine all ingredients over ice in a mason jar. Garnish with a Maraschino cherry.
Southern Peach Cocktail
Ingredients:
- 2 oz. Peach Moonshine
- 3/4 lime
- 1/2 oz. Triple Sec
- 1/4 oz. agave
Preparation: In a cocktail shaker combine ingredients and top with ice. Shake well and strain over ice in a rocks glass. The glasses can be rimmed with either sugar or salt and garnished with a lime wedge or peach slice.
DIY Firefly Punch
Ingredients:
- 1 jars White Lightning Moonshine
- 2 jars Apple Pie Moonshine or Blackberry Moonshine or Caramel Moonshine or Cherry Moonshine or Strawberry Moonshine
- 2 gallons of your favorite juice(s)
- Fresh fruit
Preparation: Mix in pitcher or tub. Suggestions:
- Cherry or Strawberry Moonshine with cranberry, blueberry, raspberry juices, lemon and lime wedges
- Peach Moonshine with citrus juices, pineapple chunks & orange wedges
- Caramel and Apple Pie Moonshine with apple juices, cranberry juices, fresh apple slices
Makes 55 servings, 6 oz. drinks.
