What is the difference between vodka and moonshine and what is better to drink? Good moonshine is much better than the most expensive vodka

Vodka and moonshine are perhaps the most popular alcoholic drinks among the Slavic peoples. There is always a dispute between fans of intoxicants about what is more harmful: vodka or moonshine, what is actually better to use, which of these drinks is cleaner, safer, what are the pros and cons they hide in themselves? First you need to figure out what is the fundamental difference between the centuries created moonshine and produced industrial way vodka. The number of lovers and admirers of both one and the other strong drink is quite a lot.

Raw material

Vodka is made from rectified raw materials, carefully purified in an industrial environment. However, from what feedstock the rectified alcohol is made, remains the secret of the manufacturer. But most likely alcohol is obtained from the cheapest materials, otherwise the cost of producing vodka will be much higher than the income from its sale. Modern vodka is a product high technology. It is clear as a tear, does not freeze, and is easy to drink. However, it is not known from what it is made. In theory, it should be made from grain alcohol. But is it really so? Modern technologies allow the production of alcohol from refined products, sawdust, moss, and at the same time, what is most interesting, such alcohol cannot be distinguished by taste. Even standard laboratory studies do not reveal the difference between grain, hydrolytic (sawdust), synthetic vodka.

As for moonshine, everything is more clear here. It is produced from various environmentally friendly products: yeast, sugar, wheat, rye, corn and so on. If the product is produced for own consumption, then the moonshiner never saves on quality original products, observes all stages of the fermentation and distillation process, as well as the subsequent purification and infusion of moonshine on a wide variety of useful products, such as herbs, fruits, citrus fruits, oak chips. The result is first-class alcohol that cannot be compared with store-bought vodka. Of course, we are not talking about singed moonshine, which is prepared for sale by various unfortunate moonshiners. They seek to cash in on this business, so their source material, of course, is the worst quality, and it is unlikely that they comply with the entire technology of preparing a drink. Such a stick can be poisonous.

Are fusel oils so harmful?

The contentious issue is whether fusel oils in moonshine. Fusel oils are a mixture of higher alcohols (isoamyl, isopropyl). By appearance fusel oils are an oily liquid that has a reddish or yellowish tint with bad smell. As part of such substances, amyl alcohols are dangerous, which can poison the body very seriously. In the manufacture of artisanal moonshine, a small percentage of this fusel still remains. However, if at home cooking moonshine is cleaned with a carbon filter, potassium permanganate, and other means, and it is also separated into fractions during distillation, then as a result, only residual effects will remain from fusel oils. They will not be enough to harm health very seriously.

On the contrary, a small admixture of various fusel oils inhibits the oxidation of alcohol to acetaldehyde, so it does not affect the liver and other organs so much. This has been proven by a number of studies. It is acetaldehyde that has the most detrimental effect on the body, which is why poisoning occurs. Sivukha slows down the oxidation process, and the harmful effects of alcohol appear more slowly. However, an excess of fusel oils is also harmful. With the constant use of moonshine, toxic substances hit all human organs. First of all, the heart, nervous system, kidneys, liver suffer.

As for vodka, here one should only rely on the conscientiousness of the manufacturer. Vodka is produced industrially, therefore, it should be purified more efficiently, that is, it should not contain any fusel oils and other harmful impurities at all. In industrial production, all fusel oils are completely removed from alcoholic beverages by means of rectification. But therein lies the trick. Vodka is a pure solution of ethanol with water, and it has a very sharp effect on the body, because of which it simply cannot resist such an attack, intoxication occurs faster.

Some historical information

Vodka in its distant past was also the most common moonshine, which was prepared from bread or grain mash, distilled it through the very first primitive distillers. It was called vodka at that time Chemical substance, which has been classified as a poison that causes fatal poisoning. Turning vodka into national pride it happened, as it usually does, because of the money. Since most of the population began to use home-brew, and the production product was not popular, a marketing ploy was made.

Information was published that homemade moonshine is very harmful, since it contains a lot of harmful impurities. But alcohol of industrial production does not contain even a hundredth of the toxic substances that are in the home product. However, it was not mentioned that the purer the vodka, the faster the poisoning by the decay products of alcohol will occur. Vodka breaks down to acetaldehyde, which is the culprit of poisoning. And the cleaner it is, the faster the decay process will take place, which means that the load on the body will be enormous and it simply cannot cope with so many toxic substances. Therefore, after vodka, a person is tormented by a hangover. A small admixture of fusel oils, which is present in moonshine, slows down oxidation and therefore the body does not experience a shock from poisoning.

Economic component

Comparing vodka and moonshine, one should mention such a thing as cost. It is customary to buy expensive vodka. It is believed that it is much better, cleaner, better quality. But all the same, all industrial vodka is made from rectified alcohol, which in itself is not very expensive. So, when buying expensive vodka, people simply overpay for the elegant design of the bottle, label, but not for the quality of the product itself. Moonshine is made independently, all products are natural and the technology of the process can be fully controlled, so you can be sure of the quality of the final product. If there is distrust of distillation, then it is worth remembering that such elite drinks like cognac, brandy, whiskey, they are all produced by distillation. Therefore, what is better to drink, moonshine or vodka, each person decides for himself.

Although, when prices for vodka are constantly rising, people start thinking about creating their own homemade drink. Sometimes not only the economic situation affects the choice of alcohol. After all, if you catch up with a lot of moonshine, you can not only replace vodka with it, but also create yourself a whole bar of various alcoholic beverages, insisting moonshine on a wide variety of herbs, fruits, peppers, coffee and other components, so it makes no sense to buy various dubious tinctures in stores.

What is still better: moonshine or store-bought vodka?

Most people who drink vodka and moonshine most often lean in favor of the latter drink. At moderate use no homemade moonshine in the morning hangover syndrome. If vodka is consumed in the same amount, then you just want to lie down and fall asleep, and in the morning all the symptoms of a hangover can be observed: dry mouth, headache, general weakness of the body. Homemade moonshine prepared from natural products, With various additives, giving it unique taste. Naturally, if we are talking about moonshine, prepared just for yourself. Moonshine goes through several stages of preparation: preparation of fermentation wort, fermentation, distillation, purification, infusion of moonshine. All of these steps are required. Real moonshine is drunk softly, and vodka tastes like dead alcohol or even solvent. Moonshine is produced by distillation, and vodka is produced by diluting pre-purified alcohol.

Siberians say that good and quality moonshine beats on the legs, and vodka on the head. That is, if you use good moonshine, then your head remains light, even when your legs may no longer obey. Vodka, on the contrary, clouds the brain, while the legs remain in order. Well, with brain fog, more than one crime is committed. There is a difference in taste between vodka and moonshine. So even if you insist on vodka for the most various ingredients, it will still be quite difficult to get rid of the characteristic taste and smell of ethyl alcohol. Moonshine, on the other hand, can initially be prepared from high-quality raw materials, which will not give an unpleasant aftertaste. And if you still hold double distillation, then no extraneous aftertaste will be felt at all. Insisting on various components will turn homemade moonshine into lovely drink with a touch of exotic spices or cognac.

Thus, that it is better to drink moonshine or vodka, there is no consensus among drink lovers. Those who drink vodka will always find something to object to fans of homemade distillate called moonshine.

Among the Slavic peoples, vodka and moonshine are considered popular alcoholic beverages. Between their fans already long time disputes do not stop on various occasions: what brings more harm health, what is cleaner, what is the difference between drinks, etc. The number of admirers of both one and the other alcohol is quite a lot. Therefore, let's still analyze what is the difference and what is preferable to use.

The difference between moonshine and vodka

These products are quite similar. But still, what is the difference between vodka and moonshine?

Vodka. At its core, it is a water-alcohol solution. To obtain an alcohol base, a rectification method is used, that is, the separation of a liquid into practically pure components that differ in boiling points. And at this stage there are many nuances. Alcohol is obtained in the cheapest way. Otherwise, the production costs will be too high. Today, the production of vodka takes place with the help of modern technologies.

Vodka is distilled from grain alcohol. But it is extremely difficult to find out the source material of the product: research in the laboratory cannot give an accurate result. Today, alcohol can be synthesized using sawdust, moss, or petroleum products. The taste of the drink will be the same.

Moonshine. This is a strong liquor obtained by distillation. The mash is placed in the vessel and heated. Alcohol vapor evaporates from the semi-finished product faster than water vapor, which enters the coil, where they are cooled and condensate is collected in a container. If we talk about the manufacture of high-quality moonshine, then the distillation process is described rather concisely.

The main difference between moonshine is that you know exactly what products it was made from. Homemade alcohol ferments based on natural products. Making for yourself takes place on high level: all ingredients are carefully selected and the cooking process is controlled and strictly observed at all stages. If we talk about moonshine for sale, then in this case the quality of the drink will be noticeably worse, since the manufacturer will save on everything.

Dispel the myths

For some reason, it is accepted among the people that if moonshine, then it is a poison that contains a large amount of fusel oils. No matter how strange it may sound, but the drink own production much more harmless and, oddly enough, more useful than any vodka. The most important thing is compliance with the rules for the manufacture and purification of moonshine. To obtain high-quality moonshine, you need to overtake the mash at least 2 times. You say: a smell. The smell has nothing to do with fusel oils, but only indicates that the fermentation took place without flavorings.

A little about vodka. Today technological progress stepped so far that the preparation of an alcohol base for alcohol can occur not only from a grain mixture, but also from potatoes, sawdust, oil and manure. But the most important thing is that not a single chemical laboratory, after analyzing, will say what alcohol is made of. All this was achieved thanks to the multi-stage cleaning of fusel oil. Due to such purification, the content of fusel oils tends to 0. But this does not mean that the drink is absolutely safe.

Take whiskey for comparison. It contains 500 times more sivukha than vodka. Its quality increases with the increase in fusel oils. And as it is scientifically proven that 100% pure for a person is sometimes very harmful. So, 100% purified water can damage the body. Impurities slow down the oxidative processes of alcohol in the body. Therefore, based on scientific evidence, vodka can be classified as a harmful drink.

The absolute advantage of vodka is its availability. And moonshine must be sought by acquaintances.

What is more harmful moonshine or vodka?

Most people claim that the body tolerates moonshine more easily. In the morning, the hangover is either completely absent, or much weaker compared to vodka.

In most cases, there are more fusel oils in moonshine due to cleaning at home. Vodka, on the other hand, is produced in large-scale production facilities, where the technology is much higher. It all depends on the amount of oils. At a low content, they improve the drink: the oxidation of alcohol is slower, but if the content is exceeded, many organs will be harmed.

These oils should not be in vodka, but this does not guarantee greater safety. Vodka is a mixture of ethanol and water. The first substance has a rather sharp effect and causes intoxication faster. So, moonshine and vodka equally harm the body.

Regardless of the drink ethanol will harm the body. In not large quantities it is not too dangerous, so watch the amount of alcohol you drink: in addition to strong intoxication you can get health problems.

What is better to choose

Let's summarize - what is better moonshine or vodka? Pay attention to the prices of drinks: the cost of a liter of moonshine will be approximately 50 rubles, and vodka of the same volume can be bought from 300 rubles. In addition, regardless of the cost of vodka, it is made from rectified alcohol, which will be inexpensive. So, when buying an expensive drink, most of the cost comes from the bottle and packaging, not the quality.

Not taking into account the cost, moonshine and vodka are the same in terms of the degree of influence. You should choose a drink according to your own preferences, but remember that excessive alcohol consumption harms the body.

Attention, only TODAY!

It is traditionally believed that among the Slavic peoples the most popular drinks are vodka and moonshine. Indeed, these varieties of strong alcohol have their own circle of admirers, and it is quite extensive. Despite the fact that the basis of this alcohol (like any other) is ethyl alcohol, the difference between these alcoholic beverages exists and is quite significant.

For many years, there have been disputes between fans of this alcohol, which is better, moonshine or vodka, which alcohol does more harm to the body and what to choose for the next vacation. Let's see how these popular alcoholic drinks differ.

There is a significant difference between vodka and moonshine

Works on the production of vodka alcohol a large number of people involved in large industrial enterprises, plants and factories. In order for her next admirer to pick up a bottle with a white one, both workers and units are working on its creation.

Vodka is a mixture of pure ethyl alcohol and water. In the vast majority, the strength of this alcohol is about 40%. But in some types strong alcohol degree increased or slightly decreased from the norm.

To understand how vodka differs from moonshine, one should take into account the peculiarities of the manufacture of these types of alcoholic beverages. As for vodka, in its production, technological processes provide for the inclusion of certain additives in the composition of the drink, which soften the taste of alcohol and make it more pleasant.

How alcohol is produced for making vodka

If you look up the archives of history, you can find out that at the very beginning of their significant journey, infusions of various herbs and roots were added to vodka. At that time, in its composition vodka drink was as close as possible to moonshine. Everything changed with the accession to the throne of Queen Elizabeth. During her reign, vodka began to be produced with a professional approach. Soon the little white one occupied a worthy niche in a number of alcohol-containing products.

The word "vodka" comes from the Polish language. And this strong drink itself was brought to Russia from Poland at the beginning of the 15th century.

Benefits of alcohol

There are a number of points due to which vodka successfully competes among other products that represent strong alcohol. They are the following:

1. The composition of this alcohol contains a large amount of mineral compounds, in particular, potassium, calcium and sodium.
2. Vodka has the ability to lower the level of bad cholesterol in the blood. But the vodka product has such an effect only with small and irregular doses of its use.
3. Ethyl alcohol is an effective antidote for fatal poisoning methanol.
4. Vodka is famous for its powerful antiseptic abilities. With its help, you can perfectly disinfect cuts, wounds, abrasions. This alcohol has high antibacterial properties.
5. Effectively its competent use in order to prevent colds of infectious diseases. This alcohol has excellent antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties.

One of the options for using vodka in medicinal purposes

From all that has been said, it becomes clear that good vodka pretty useful product. But only in the case of moderate use. You should not get carried away with this alcohol, because any drink that contains ethyl alcohol provokes the development of addiction and has a devastating effect on health.

Technological nuances

In fact, vodka is a water-alcohol solution. To obtain a suitable alcohol base, technologists use a rectification method in order to separate the raw material base into purified components by applying various temperature conditions.

It is at this stage that many nuances are hidden. Manufacturers are trying to get alcohol without spending a lot of money, otherwise the cost of the final product will be too high. Basically, vodka is rectified on the basis of grain alcohol. But modern manufacturers can get raw materials even from oil, moss or sawdust. By the way, the taste of the final drink will be exactly the same.

The quality of vodka alcohol is determined by the class indicated on the bottle. It can be used to determine which alcohol was taken as the basis. Vodka has the following classification:

1. Economy Differs in low cost and a simple form of a bottle. In the production of economy class vodka, minimal filtration of the alcohol base is used. The composition includes various impurities. This drink is the easiest to fake.
2. Standard. belongs to the middle class alcoholic products, it is much more difficult to fake vodka of this level. This product made on the basis of alcohol "Extra".
3. Premium. Vodka of this level belongs to the elite category. The alcohol used as a base belongs to the "Lux" class. During the technological process, the alcohol base undergoes several stages of purification, the result is the complete disposal of vodka from methanol and harmful impurities.
4. Super premium. Vodka of these varieties is practically not faked, as it is too expensive. The cleaning processes use expensive components - gold and silver. Rare water from the Alpine highlands is also used.

When choosing vodka in stores, first of all, you should pay attention to the class of alcohol used.

If the cost of production is low, and the bottle contains an indication of "alcohol of the highest category of purification", you have a deadly counterfeit. Acquiring, and even more so drinking such alcohol is extremely dangerous.

moonshine tricks

The legendary moonshine in our understanding is a high-grade alcohol made by home craftsmen. In its preparation, a variety of home-made units are used, which give the final drink the necessary strength.

Moonshine is prepared at home using special home-made units

It is believed that in order to make excellent moonshine, you need to know the recipe and strictly adhere to the nuances of fermentation.

The main difference between vodka and moonshine lies in the composition of alcohol. If vodka consists of a mixture of alcohol and water, the composition of moonshine is richer. For the preparation of strong homemade alcohol, the following ingredients are used:

• sugar;
• corn;
• potato;
• sugar beet;
• various berries;
• natural pure honey.

The quality of moonshine is directly affected by the fact which raw materials will be used for the production of mash. Most often moonshiners use good sugar and selected ripe berries. Instead of yeast used to create fermentation processes, craftsmen use malt or hops.

Cooking features

Experienced moonshine makers correlate the process of creating moonshine with a real complex art, where it is important to take into account the various nuances and subtleties of the process. And not every newcomer will cope with this matter. After the start of fermentation of raw materials, the wort is brought to the desired condition - this process sometimes takes several days.

And only after that proceed to the main cooking process. The mash is placed in a special container and gradually warmed up. Alcohol vapors, which evaporate much faster than water vapor, end up in the coil. There they are cooled, and the resulting condensate is collected.

Simplified scheme moonshine still

The main difference between moonshine and vodka lies in the fact that the moonshiner knows perfectly well from which raw materials and how the drink was produced. Homemade moonshine is much more natural, because it is used for food products. Moreover, the best ingredients are selected (if you are preparing moonshine for your own needs).

The benefits of moonshine

Arguing about what is more harmful: moonshine or vodka, let's study useful abilities homemade alcohol. These include the following:

1. moonshine becomes beautiful way treatment of colds (for early dates development).
2. With it, you can carry out healing wraps, use when applying compresses.
3. If moonshine is of good quality and is made according to all technological rules, it can be used to treat duodenal and stomach ulcers. To do this, take 20 ml of homemade alcohol daily on an empty stomach.
4. Just like vodka, moonshine alcohol has excellent antiseptic and disinfectant properties. They can treat minor abrasions and wounds.
5. Moonshine is actively used for the preparation of numerous homemade tinctures. If mixed with suitable medicinal herb, a plant, you can get a decent and effective medicine.

You can list the healing and useful abilities of moonshine for a long time, but it is worth considering that it is still alcoholic drink. Like any other, it (with excessive enthusiasm) provokes the development of persistent addiction and creates all the health problems associated with alcoholism.

We analyze the existing myths

For unknown reasons, there is a persistent opinion among the people that moonshine is a strong poison, where fusel oils are contained in large quantities. In fact, home-made, high-quality moonshine turns out to be more useful than purchased vodka for testing. The main condition is to observe all the nuances of the technological process and distill the mash several times.

There are more fusel oils in moonshine than in vodka

As for the rather strong specific moonshine smell, this aroma has nothing to do with harmful impurities. Such amber is formed due to the lack of flavors during fermentation processes. But as for vodka, then, unfortunately, now you can find too many fakes of this alcohol.

Moreover, even under laboratory conditions it is impossible to say which additives were used to make the alcohol base. But, unlike moonshine, vodka is affordable, you can buy it in any liquor department. But good and high-quality moonshine has to be searched for by friends and acquaintances.

The main differences between moonshine and vodka

If we summarize all the differences between these varieties of strong alcohol, they can be described as follows:

1. Compound. More used in moonshine additional ingredients but they are all natural. Vodka is more purified from impurities and fusel oil and practically does not contain poisonous fusel oils. Moonshine cannot boast of this.
2. Taste. In terms of taste, these alcoholic drinks totally different. Moonshine has a pronounced aroma and a specific smell. The perception of vodka flavor is much softer and more delicate, it is not so odorous. The aftertaste of these drinks also varies.
3. Price. In terms of pricing, both alcohols also differ. Moonshine at its cost is much cheaper than vodka. But a vodka drink due to the complexity of the technology, especially when using good alcohol and a thorough cleaning procedure, will cost a lot more.
4. Benefit for a person. Both vodka and moonshine can bring tangible benefits when used in medicinal, healing measures. Of course, subject to their competent and strictly moderate consumption. Otherwise, from their consumption, a person will receive nothing but destructive harm.
5. Hangover. According to alcohol lovers, the hangover after moonshine is much milder and weaker than after a vodka libation. It often happens that a hangover against the background of consumption of only good moonshine does not come at all.

Both of these strong alcoholic drinks - vodka and moonshine have every right to exist. You should only know your own measure and consume high-grade alcohol extremely reasonably, without increasing the safe dose. Only in this case, their reception will be justified and even useful for a person. Well, what exactly to prefer is a matter too individual and depends only on one's own preferences.

Ethyl alcohol contained in alcoholic products is a poison in large quantities. In addition, many drinks contain chemical dyes, flavorings and impurities. To choose the safest alcohol-containing product, you need to study the compositions of the most popular ones. It is necessary to be guided by the principle: the less impurities and additives, the easier than the liver process the substance. Based on this, the least harmful alcoholic drink is vodka.

Show all

Vodka

Depending on the degree of purification and the raw materials used, there are three grades of vodka alcohol:

1. 1. "Super" and "Alpha" - the maximum degree of purification, are used to make premium vodka.
2. 2. "Lux" - produced exclusively from grain.
3. 3. "Extra" and "Highest purification" - prepared from sugar-containing organic raw materials.

The purity of vodka is determined not only by the class of alcohol from which it is prepared, but also by the production technology, the degree of purification, etc. There are several simple ways to check the "purity" of the product:

• Spin the bottle and see how quickly the bubbles disappear. In quality vodka, they should disappear in a few seconds.
• Put the bottle horizontally, and then slowly raise it, watching the vodka flow down the wall. Pure vodka flows immediately, leaving no streaks on the bottle.
• Smell immediately after opening the bottle. High-quality vodka smells only of alcohol. The presence of foreign odors will indicate poor cleaning of the product.



Useful properties of vodka

Despite his chemical composition(water and ethyl alcohol), vodka is able to have a certain healing effect on the human body:

1. 1. Expansion of the lumen of the vessels, which leads to a short-term decrease in blood pressure.
2. 2. Increased appetite.
3. 3. Psychological - helps to get rid of many complexes for a while and become more relaxed and sociable. Although this dignity of the drink is very conditional, since intoxication helps to hide psychological problems, and not solve them.



Harm from vodka

The harmful effects of vodka on human health are much stronger than the benefits. In addition to antisocial action, vodka has a strong destructive effect on the entire body.

Ethyl alcohol contained in vodka has a detrimental effect on brain cells. Regular use This drink in large quantities can lead to irreversible disorders of brain activity, cause mental illness.

Drinking vodka contributes to the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels. Alcohol gluing clogs blood vessels, which leads to a decrease in oxygen supply to brain cells. In severe cases, adhesions can lead to stroke and death.

Regular consumption of vodka causes cirrhosis of the liver. As a result of the disease of this organ, immunity decreases, the blood stops being cleansed, and the person becomes defenseless against most infectious diseases.

Pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, impotence, atherosclerosis and many other diseases can also be a consequence overuse vodka.



Beer

In large doses, the product is toxic to the liver and other internal organs. This is primarily due to the alcohol contained in it, the quality of which is often low. The strength of the beer is achieved by the action of yeast microorganisms in the fermentation process. Together with alcohol in the product are formed acetic acid, fusel oils and other side compounds.



Quality beer brewed classic recipes, should consist only of water, malt and hops. However, now many manufacturers to improve palatability often add various syrups, molasses. This leads to the fact that beer begins to have an atypical, and sometimes unpredictable effect on the human body. It is because of these additives that many consumers often complain of a morning hangover after 2-3 bottles of beer.

A low-alcohol drink has useful properties, which are determined by the elements contained in it:

• B vitamins;
• biotin;
• fruit and lactic acids;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• nicotinic and folic acids;
• amino acids.

The presence of malt in the composition fills the beer with 30 different useful compounds. Two liters of the drink compensates for the lack of magnesium, phosphorus and potassium in the body.

The harmful effects of beer

Along with a high content of vitamins, microelements and acids, beer contains harmful, toxic compounds. This is first of all:

• Fusel oils. Mainly present in dark and wheat beer. In large quantities, they have a toxic effect on the human body.
• Phytoestrogens. They are plant analogues of the female sex hormone - estrogen. AT male body can cause gynecomastia (itching in the nipples and their increase), female-type obesity, baldness, acne.
• Cobalt. Unscrupulous beer makers mix in cobalt compounds to increase foam. The substance is dangerous for the human cardiovascular system.

Alcohol abuse can cause allergic reactions, diarrhea and skin rashes.

Whiskey

The drink is prepared by distillation of alcohol-containing raw materials. The resulting liquid is sealed in wooden barrels and store for a long time. Whiskey contains from 32 to 50% alcohol and has a yellow-brown color.



Unlike vodka, which consists only of alcohol and water, whiskey contains a large number of foreign substances:

• Fusel oils. They give the product a specific smell and taste. At the same time, there are toxic compounds among a large number of fusel oils. The most dangerous of them is isoamyl alcohol, which is 10-12 times more toxic than ethyl alcohol. When using this chemical compound, a headache, nausea, and vomiting appear. Death can occur after ingestion of 10-15 g of the substance.
• Ethers. Give whiskey fruit flavors and aromas. However, in large quantities they exhibit preservative properties, which can lead to dysbacteriosis.
• Diketone diacetyl. Adds an oily scent. It is formed during the fermentation of the wort. The amount contained in whiskey does not have a harmful effect on the human body.
• Lactones. Esters with a distinct coconut odor. No harmful effect.
• Phenolic components, in particular coumarin. In moderate dosages, they show healing properties- normalize work of cardio-vascular system, prevents thrombosis, has a sedative effect.
• polyphenol tannin. Gives whiskey an astringent feel. It has an antioxidant, radioprotective effect on the human body, normalizes the function of the liver, kidneys, cardiovascular and digestive systems, hematopoiesis, and smooth muscle tissue.

The specific benefits and harms of whiskey are determined by the amount of fusel oils in the drink, which can reach 4000 mg per liter. Therefore, the safety of this alcohol for the body depends primarily on the degree of purification. Also, aged whiskeys are considered less harmful: in them, some of the fusel oils are absorbed by the tree.

Cognac

Cognac is a grape spirit that has undergone double distillation and aged in oak barrels. Often unscrupulous manufacturers are cunning - they add rectified grain alcohol to cognac alcohol. It is very difficult to taste such a mixture. Most often, due to the low quality of cognac, severe hangover.



The benefits of cognac

Despite the fact that the drink is strong and contains a large amount of ethyl alcohol, cognac can have a healing effect on the body:

• increased appetite;
• stimulation of the production of gastric juice;
• improvement of metabolic processes in the body;
• help in the fight against infections and pathogenic viruses.

Cognac has the ability to lower arterial pressure, which has a beneficial effect on the work of the human cardiovascular system.

Tannins reduce the rate of absorption of alcohol into the blood, which is why intoxication occurs more slowly than with other alcoholic beverages. They also aid in the absorption of vitamin C.

Harm cognac

The drink contains more than 450 different compounds, some of which have a detrimental effect on the body - they are toxic. A large number of substances in cognac appears during the maturation of cognac spirit in an oak barrel. So, ethyl acetate in agriculture is used to control insects. Cognac is 3 times more saturated with it than tequila. These substances increase the load on the liver, which is already exposed to harmful effects cognac spirits.

A common mistake is to refrigerate cognac before drinking. The drink must be room temperature. Pour into a glass up to the middle.

In Russia, cognac is usually eaten with lemon or cheese. AT Western Europe cognac is consumed with chocolate, coffee and a cigar.

Wine

Wine contains great amount chemical elements. Wine has beneficial properties due to the presence in the composition of compounds such as:

• tannins - determine the color and taste of the drink. The compounds have preservative properties and do not allow the wine to oxidize. Substances have a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system, are a preventive measure for heart attacks and strokes;
• flavonoids - remove free radicals, protecting cells from their destructive effects. Flavonoids activate immune functions, help the body fight infections and colds. These compounds are able to strengthen the walls blood vessels, improving their permeability and elasticity and delaying all changes associated with the deposition of cholesterol plaques;
• vitamins, macro- and microelements - have a general strengthening effect on all organs and tissues of the body.



Due to its properties, wine has been used in medical practice. Today, this drink is prescribed in sanatoriums and clinics located in the Caucasus and other areas where wine is produced. The drink treats diseases of the heart, blood vessels, joints, stomach, blood and sexual function.

Harm from wine

Despite the large number of useful properties, wine, like any other alcoholic drink, can be harmful to health. Before all this:

1. 1. Alcoholism. Daily use wine leads to inhibition of the production of ethyl alcohol by one's own body. As a result, in addition to psychological dependence, a physical craving for alcohol is inevitably formed.
2. 2. Diabetes. Wine contains a large amount of sugar. Even drinking one glass of this drink makes the pancreas work in a forced mode: you need to produce a large amount of insulin and spread sugar through the cells of tissues and organs. As a result of regular loads from its intake into the body, the function of the pancreas is inhibited, insulin is produced less and less, and diabetes mellitus develops.
3. 3. Load on the liver. Ethyl alcohol contained in wine, to a certain extent, has a toxic effect on the liver. To reduce the load on this organ, it is recommended not to use fatty foods along with wine. In diseases of the liver and biliary tract, alcoholic beverages should be discarded. Do not take red wine, even dry, at the same time as medications.

The main rule in drinking wine is to know when to stop. This amazing drink can become a healing elixir that bestows health and youth, and can be a deadly poison and lead to fatal diseases.

Tequila

Tequila is made from the juice of the blue agave agave tequilana. The alcohol content in the drink is most often from 38 to 40%.

Consumers of the drink claim that there is no pain in the head in the morning after drinking tequila. This property is achieved by its ability to cause rapid intoxication - faster than from vodka or cognac. As a result, a person becomes drunk faster than they have time to consume a large amount of drink.



The benefits of tequila

Agave is a plant with many medicinal properties:

• activates the immune system;
• exhibits antioxidant properties;
• is an effective pain reliever;
• normalizes the functions of the intestines, stomach and liver;
• helps to heal wounds;
• relieves constipation;
• removes toxic substances from the body;
• activates metabolism;
• increases the lumen of blood vessels, lowers blood pressure;
• prevents the development of mental illness;
• inhibits the growth of malignant tumors;
• strengthens hair follicles;
• helps fight insomnia.

Tequila is used in combination for the preparation of tinctures and compresses for people suffering from sciatica and joint diseases.

Harm tequila

Excessive consumption of tequila negatively affects the functioning of the liver, leading to its damage. The elasticity of blood vessels decreases, the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases.

Abuse of the drink leads to wear and tear of the pancreas and inhibition of its function. This is fraught with the development of diabetes.

It is customary to consume tequila from narrow glasses with a thick glass bottom or thick-walled glasses. They drink a blue agave drink without snacking before dinner. by the most known way drinking tequila is drinking with salt.

Rum

Rum is made from by-products production of sugar from cane by fermentation and subsequent distillation. The resulting distillate is sealed in oak barrels and stored for long term, resulting in the drink acquires an amber color and a characteristic aroma. The alcohol content of rum ranges from 40 to 75%.



Due to the fact that there is no single technology for preparing a drink, the quality of rum and its taste can vary greatly depending on the country of production or the manufacturer's company. Accordingly, the better the technology is followed, the cleaner the drink will turn out and the less manifestations of a hangover will be after drinking it.

The benefits and harms of drinking rum are the same as those of drinking other strong alcoholic beverages. The danger of rum to human health will only be increased by poor purification of alcohol and poor quality raw materials used - cane molasses and syrup.

Moonshine

Moonshine is prepared at home using a moonshine still by distilling mash. The raw material for mash is plant products rich in sugars and starch. The difference between moonshine and vodka is that when it is made from a drink, various impurities are not removed. As a result, intoxication occurs more slowly, and the hangover syndrome manifests itself more strongly. Therefore, when choosing: vodka or moonshine, it is recommended to choose vodka.

Homemade moonshine is similar to industrial production cognac, whiskey and tequila - the removal of impurities is not carried out completely on purpose, so that the drink acquires a specific smell and taste of the feedstock.



The benefits of moonshine

Small doses have a calming and vasodilating effect on the body. Rest beneficial features moonshine acquired largely due to tradition and culture. For more than 100 years, it has been popularly believed that a glass of moonshine with pepper is very effective tool fight against colds. Many men use moonshine with onions and parsley to increase potency. AT traditional medicine there are many recipes for compresses and rubbing with elevated temperature body, joint pain, colds.

A significant advantage of moonshine is the fact that production takes place under personal control. This guarantees the safety of the final product. Another plus is the price. A home-made drink is about 2-3 times cheaper than vodka.

Harm moonshine

The danger to human health is more obvious than the benefit. After the distillation of the mash, a distillate is formed, containing a large amount of hazardous compounds (fusel oil, methanol), leading to serious health problems.

Most hazardous impurities in moonshine are:

• isoamyl alcohol;
• isopropyl alcohol;
• ethyl acetate.

These compounds can lead to disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system, liver, kidneys, brain.

Moonshine causes great damage gastrointestinal tract. Regular use of moonshine inevitably leads to a thinning of the inner lining of the stomach, which causes bleeding and ulcers.



After analyzing the chemical composition of various alcoholic beverages, we can conclude that the safest drink will be the one that contains the least amount of fusel oils. According to this quality, you can compile an alcohol safety rating (the amount of fusel oils is indicated in ml / liter):

1. 1. Vodka - 15-25.
2. 2. Beer - 25-100.
3. 3. Wine - 100-630.
4. 4. Cognac - until 2000.
5. 5. Whiskey - up to 4000.
6. 6. Moonshine - up to 12000.

In large doses, any alcohol is harmful to human health. When choosing alcohol, it is necessary to be guided by the principle: the less impurities and additives in the drink, the easier it is for the liver to process it, and the less consequences there will be in the morning. Based on this principle, it is better to choose vodka, as it is the least harmful.

Imagine this situation: You come to visit. The hosts have a lot of treats on the table and, of course, alcohol. You prefer stronger alcohol. And then they ask you: “What are you going to drink? Maybe vodka? Or maybe try "homemade"? Which drink would you choose? And what arguments are you willing to justify this choice. Don't work hard. We will give you a whole arsenal in your hands, which will help you decide much faster.

Who is who

Moonshine. This is a strong alcoholic drink, which is obtained as a result of sublimation, or in other words - distillation. A pre-prepared mash is placed in the container. She's heating up. Alcohol that evaporates from the semi-finished product faster than water, cools in a special coil and in the form of condensate is gradually collected in a container. This is in short. The process of making good moonshine is troublesome. We'll talk about this in more detail below.

Vodka. In fact, it is a water-alcohol solution. Alcohol is obtained through the so-called rectification in distillation columns as a result of the separation of binary and multicomponent mixtures due to countercurrent mass and heat exchange between vapor and liquid. And there are many dangers here.

Debunking the Myths

Contrary to popular belief that moonshine is a real poison, that there is so much fuselage in it that there is not enough health, home-made alcohol is often much safer, and - no matter how strange it sounds - more useful than any, even the most expensive vodka. The main thing is to properly prepare and clean it. Ask the owner how many times he distilled the drink. good moonshine distilled at least twice. Don't let the smell fool you. It doesn't smell like "sivukha" at all. A pungent smell indicates that the owners did not add any flavors to the mash.

Now about vodka. Modern science makes it possible to obtain its main component, alcohol - for vodka not only from grain, but also from potatoes, sawdust and even oil and ... manure! Moreover, not a single chemical laboratory will subsequently establish what exactly it was made of. This is achieved through multi-stage purification from fusel oils. It comes to the fact that their number in vodka can tend to zero. Meanwhile, science has long proven that everything absolutely clean is extremely harmful for the human body. It's a paradox, but even 100% purified water can be a real poison. What can we say about ethyl alcohol. For comparison: there are 500 times more fusel oils in whiskey than in vodka. Impurities inhibit the oxidation of alcohol in the body. Based on all of the above, scientists call vodka almost the most junk drink in a row of any other strong alcohol.

There is only one indisputable plus from the choice of vodka: it is easier to purchase. Moonshine has to be obtained “by acquaintance”. Although there is nothing difficult in making it yourself.

Universal Recipe

The notorious hero of the work of Ilf and Petrov, Ostap Bender, knew at least two hundred ways to make moonshine, caressing the ears of curious bootleggers with the word “pervach”, which is unusual for a foreigner. The great strategist even claimed to have the secret of making moonshine from a stool. However, you can do without frills.

To prepare 6 liters of moonshine, we need:

• 5 kg of sugar;
• 500 g of yeast;
• 25 liters of water (never boiled!)

Stage 1. We prepare the wort for the mash. We need a container: wooden or enameled. The most common is a forty-liter milk can. We fill it raw water, pour sugar, add yeast, previously dissolved in a small amount warm water. The wort should ferment at a temperature of 20–30°C. In the villages, the container was placed near the stove. A battery is also suitable in the apartment. The mash will be infused for 10 days. Readiness can be judged by taste. Braga must be bitter. If it is sweet, you need to leave more. You can also assess the degree of readiness of the semi-finished product with a match. Light a match and bring it to the container. If the fire goes out, the fermentation process with the release of carbon dioxide continues. If the match burns, the mash is ready.

Stage 2. Carefully, without shaking, pour the mash into the distillation apparatus. Its design with a diagram and description can be easily found on the Internet. Basic principle: mash should fill no more than 70% of the volume of the apparatus. During the distillation process, it is important to strictly observe temperature regime. Do not overheat, otherwise foam and turbidity will get into the final product during the boiling process. The race itself should not be fast. Experts recommend taking no more than 3 liters of product per hour. Pervach - the first batch of condensed moonshine. It is much more harmful than the product that will turn out a little later. It is recommended to use it exclusively for technical purposes.

Stage 3. He's the final one. Purification and aromatization of moonshine. The most proven method of cleaning - redistillation. To do this, the resulting moonshine (6 liters) is diluted with the same amount of filtered water and re-distilled.

Total

The taste characteristics of vodka, as well as the degree of its effect on the body, have long been experienced by most citizens. Moonshine is the popular favorite "little white", at least, no more harmful. Not to mention that the use of moonshine is much more profitable for the wallet. The cost of a liter of "homemade" is about 50 rubles. While the cheapest vodka costs at least 350 rubles in the store for the same volume. These are the facts. Based on them, everyone has the right to determine for himself which of the above drinks is better to give preference. The discrepancies are obvious: both in price and in the degree of influence on the body. The choice is an individual matter.

And finally

No matter how trite it may sound, it is better not to abuse either vodka or moonshine. In large quantities, any, even the most "useful" product is unlikely to benefit the body. Especially when it comes to alcohol. The standard dose recommended by the World Health Organization is 50 grams of hard alcohol per day for a healthy adult male. But if you still had a chance to "sort out", there are several simple but reliable ways to remove intoxication:

1. Drink with a hangover Activated carbon. It will help to quickly remove toxins.
2. Drink more water. Preferably with lemon juice. Citrus fruits help restore calcium and blood glucose levels.
3. Load up on salt. Pickle has always been a great hangover cure. Pickled sauerkraut brine is best suited for these purposes.

We hope our advice was useful to you. Drink in moderation and be healthy.