Moonshine in Michigan - the kind you drink

Measuring the moonshine for the "Cheers to Michigan" drink.

CREDIT LESTER GRAHAM / MICHIGAN

It’s fall and there’s a hint of it in the air.

“It’s definitely getting into the season where I like to think about fall flavors in my cocktails,” said Tammy Coxen of Tammy’s Tastings.

Among the bottles in front of her was one of moonshine.

"This is from Wise Men Distillery. They're just outside Grand Rapids and they make a variety of different products. What I'm using today is their Apple Pie Moonshine. It starts off with a base of their corn with a little bit of barley moonshine. That basically means it’s an unaged whiskey. Then they steep it with a whole bunch of spices and then some Michigan apple juice concentrate,” Tammy explained, adding, “To me it tastes like drinking an apple pie.”

Every year it seems as though there are more apple, cinnamon apple, and apple pie spirits on the grocer and liquor store shelves. It’s starting to be a lot like the trend of everything pumpkin spice in the fall. The question is whether those spirits are going to the same trouble of using real spices and apple juice.

Tammy says there’s a lot of variability in the market.  

“Some things, especially the apple whiskeys, are really just using flavoring and can to me have kind of an artificial taste. That’s not really something I want my glass. Then other people are taking more of an artisan approach. So, it's really kind of a buyer beware issue,” Tammy said.

She used the Apple Pie Moonshine in a drink based on the whiskey sour template.

“Our base spirit here is an ounce and a half of vodka. I also used the Wise Men distillery vodka. Then it's got three quarters of an ounce of their Apple Pie Moonshine and just half an ounce of lemon juice. Shake it up with ice. Strain it into a glass.

My experience with apple pie-like tasting is limited to a guy I knew who made it every Halloween. It was tasty, but a bit too sweet for my taste. It was popular and it was potent.

The Apple Pie of My Eye has more citrus notes than what I’d tasted in the past. It's not as cloyingly sweet as that drink was. To me, this mixture is more drinkable.

“I will say that that moonshine on its own is quite cloyingly sweet. It’s great for drizzling over ice cream or if you're a person who likes sweet drinks, sipping on it on its own over some ice would be great,” Tammy said, adding, “To me on its own it's a little too sweet, but that's why I really like it in this sour application called the flavor comes out without so much of the sweetness.”

Apple Pie of my Eye

The ingredients of Apple Pie of My Eye
CREDIT LESTER GRAHM / MICHIGAN RADIO

1 1/2 oz vodka (Wise Men)
3/4 oz Wise Men Distillery apple pie moonshine
1/2 oz lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in shaker with ice. Shake and strain into
cocktail glass.

This article is from a Michigan Public Radio Broadcast.

Cheers! It tastes like drinking an apple pie

By LESTER GRAHAM • SEP 27, 2019

Tasty Tuesday - Oatmeal Cookie shot

I belong to a Coffee Club, a fun group of Divas who drink coffee when we meet in the morning. But when we meet at night...we just drink.  On Friday, I was given an Oatmeal Cookie and I don't mean the one with oats & raisins.  It was delicious.

Ingredients

• 1-ounce Jagermeister
• 1-ounce Irish Cream Liqueur
• 1-ounce Butterscotch Schnapps
• 1/2-ounce Cinnamon Schnapps
• Raisins, for garnish, optional

Directions

Combine ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass over ice.

Here are a few variations.

Dirty Oatmeal recipe

1 1/2 oz Jagermeister® herbal liqueur
1 1/2 oz Bailey's® Irish cream

This is a layered shot - the Bailey's must be on top.

Oatmeal Cookie recipe

1/2 oz Grand Marnier® orange liqueur
1/2 oz butterscotch schnapps
1/2 oz Bailey's® Irish cream

Pour ingredients into a stainless steel shaker over ice, and shake until completely cold. Strain into an old-fashioned glass, and serve.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe

1/5 shot Jagermeister® herbal liqueur
1/5 shot Goldschlager® cinnamon schnapps
1/5 shot Bacardi® 151 rum
1/5 shot Kahlua® coffee liqueur
1/5 shot Bailey's® Irish cream

Combine ingredients in equal parts in a shot glass.

#WetWednesday

For Wet Wednesday, I couldn't decide on what to post.

After searching through my stable of hot guys,

I didn't find a wet one.

But I was thirsty, 

so I thought of a drink that would taste good.

Sex On The Beach

No... the other kind of sex on the beach.

Yeah, that's the ticket! 

I think I'll start Thirsty Thursday early.

1 1/2 oz Vodka

1/2 oz Peach Schnapps

2 oz Cranberry Juice

2oz Orange Juice

Add vodka & peach schnapps to a highball glass over ice.

Fill with equal measures of cranberry & orange juice. Stir

Tasty Tuesday–Spike Your Cocoa

Last week the temps here in Michigan were flirting with zero. My friends in Minnesota experienced frigid temps. (Lets look for a baby boom in nine months.) Cold temp means opportunity to warm up by cuddling with a mug of hot chocolate.

I have a hot cocoa station in my kitchen for the kids. I found some decorative canning jars and filled them with various ingredients. Powder cocoa mix, mini marshmallows, flavored creamer. Keep mugs or cups handy. Use mugs with names to prevent confusion or use a variety of cups for fun.

 

 

 

For the adults, keep flavored schnapps handy. A shot of peppermint is delicious. My favorite is Michigan Cherry liqueur – tastes like a hot chocolate covered cherry!

 

 

For a bit of romance… sip a mug of spiked hot cocoa while cuddling with your honey. 

Tasty Tuesday - Spiked Mulled Cider

Many of you know I'm a Football Mom. My boys are Youth Football, High School Football and College Football. That's sitting outside weekday for pracitce plus games on the weekend. I've learned to dress in a kazillion layers but once the cold creeps into my bones there is no getting rid of it.

However...

I discovered a shot of Hot Damn schnapps in some mulled cider works wonders. 
.

When making mulled cider use a hand held sieve to eliminate consuming the spices.

Single serving Spiked Mulled Cider:

Pour apple cider into a pot and simmer over low heat. Add clove, cinnamon stick and nutmeg. Float orange slices. Pour a shot of Hot Damn Schnapps into a mug before filling with the warm cider.

I found prepared mulling spices at my local market. After adding some to a pan, I add a few cups of cider and simmer over low heat. The longer you simmer the richer the flavor. Add a shot of Hot Damn or favorite fall schnapps to the mug before filling with the warm cider.

Easy Spiked Crockpot Cider for a crowd:

1/2 gallon apple cider

4 whole cinnamon sticks

8 whole Allspice Berries or Cloves

Orange peel or slices from 1 orange

(add lemon peel from one lemon during cold season)

 3/4 cup spiced rum

 1/2 cup Hot Damn

 1/2 cup Buttershots

Cook on high for one hour then switch to warm and serve.

For the best benifits 

this hot beverage should be read while reading a steamy romance book 

next to a cozy fire.

Thirsty Thursday - Porch Crawler

Spring is the time for yard work. Spending time outside works up a thirst. When it's time to sit on your porch to admire a day's worth of chores, try this tasty punch-like adult beverage.

PORCH CRAWLER

Ingredients

·         5 cherries, pitted

·         1 cherry, for garnish

·         3 leaves mint

·         1 sprig(s) mint, for garnish

·         1 hot chile, such as serrano, halved and seeded

·         Ice

·         2 ounce(s) white rum

·         1 ounce(s) fresh lemon juice

·         1 ounce(s) Basic Simple Syrup

·         2 ounce(s) chilled club soda

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Basic Simple Syrup Directions

Simple syrup is used to make lemonade, various cocktails and for other liquids that need sweetening.

1. In a cocktail shaker, muddle the 5 pitted cherries, mint leaves, and chile. Add ice and the rum, lemon juice, and simple syrup; shake well. Strain into an ice-filled Collins glass, stir in the club soda, and garnish with a cherry and a mint sprig.

Ingredients

·         1 cup(s) sugar

·         1 cup(s) water

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Directions

1. In a small saucepan, bring sugar and water to a boil; simmer until the sugar is dissolved, 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.

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Tips & Techniques

Make Ahead: The syrup can be refrigerated in a glass jar for up to 1 month.