How long can moonshine be stored in a glass jar. Storage of moonshine: which container is better and why. Video: Kiwi tincture at home

It is important to know how to store moonshine properly, as the product can go bad. Moonshine has a limited shelf life, and also requires compliance with storage conditions. If a person does not know how to properly store the product, then such a drink eventually becomes unusable and dangerous to health. If you follow all the requirements and rules, then the drink can be stored even for five years. All storage requirements will also apply to other strong alcoholic beverages.

Storage of moonshine in oak barrels

You can understand that moonshine has gone bad not only by taste, but also by appearance. The drink will become cloudy, and precipitation will also appear at the bottom in the form of flakes. The appearance will no longer be clean and transparent, and this will be the result of improper storage. To avoid this situation, you need to know three necessary conditions, namely:

container for storage;
constituent parts of moonshine;
external climate conditions.

Storage Capacity Selection

If we talk about containers, then most people do not think about whether it is possible to store moonshine in a plastic bottle, they immediately pour the drink into this container. Doing so is strictly prohibited. Storing a drink in plastic is dangerous, since moonshine has a strength of more than 20%, which means that plastic will dissolve from this characteristic. If the bottle is thin, it will start to leak after a few days.

And alcohol, corroding plastic bottles, causes moonshine to become cloudy and precipitate in the form of flakes. The drink acquires an unpleasant smell, the taste changes. Of course, this does not always happen, and moonshine may not change the appearance. But in any case, upon contact with plastic, a number of chemical reactions occur, carcinogens are released, for example, formaldehyde, styrene. The most dangerous thing is that they cannot be determined by taste and their effect will not always appear immediately after drinking such moonshine, it is possible that these substances will accumulate in the body.

If you store moonshine in plastic, then only in a special form of this material intended for alcohol. But such material is rarely found in retail, but is used in manufacturing and industry.

It is the storage container that is 80% the key to the success of preserving the drink. Alcohol, as already clear, is an active substance that interacts with the environment. And almost always, when interacting, harmful components are formed. At home, you can store the drink in jars, bottles or glass bottles.

The best storage option would be a bottle of vodka from the store. It is especially good if its cork has been preserved and no other substances have been poured into the bottle. If other liquids were stored in the container before, then it must be washed and dried. The material itself is safe, but moonshine can absorb those smells and tastes from the bottle that were there before, and, accordingly, spoil its taste. Therefore, the container must be clean, free of foreign odors and dry.

And you also need to take care of tightness. The fact is that alcohol tends to evaporate, so if the lid does not fit tightly, then over time only water will remain in the bottle. Even because of a poorly closed lid, the drink will change its taste and properties. But if alcohol is stored in jars, then it is better to roll them up with steel lids - this is more reliable and safer than using nylon caps. In addition, capron is plastic, and contact with alcohol is prohibited.

Do not use containers for storage that previously contained industrial liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, glue. This is dangerous for health and the drink, since it is difficult to wash these containers and some of the substance will penetrate the moonshine.

Aluminum cans, as well as enameled dishes, will not work, so an aluminum flask will not be a solution either. Moonshine can be stored in it for only a few days, and preferably before use during the day. If production volumes are large, then stainless steel barrels that do not react to alcohol can be used.

It is also not dangerous to store moonshine in oak barrels, but this is a laborious process, since it is difficult to create conditions for storing the barrel itself, and you also need to check the moonshine daily. Barrels are expensive, and distillate losses are greater with this storage than with other storage methods. And the taste of the drink will also change, which will also not appeal to everyone.

The composition of the drink and storage conditions

The composition of moonshine is important when choosing the type of storage, and especially the timing. Foreign substances may be present in the beverage to improve the organoleptic properties, i.e. taste. Additives include:

sugar;
lemon acid;
herbal extracts;
fruits, berries;
oils or impurities that are not purified during distillation.

It is impossible to say exactly how these substances will react to storage conditions, since they have different concentrations. Most often, natural additives precipitate, they can make the drink cloudy, but this does not affect the quality of moonshine.

Storage of moonshine in glass containers

Previously, for each type of drink in the USSR, there were storage standards, they were called GOSTs. Accordingly, now these standards have changed and even in each country they differ. These standards describe the strength of drinks, as well as the desired shelf life. Ordinary moonshine can last the longest - 2 years.

The expiration date is different for other drinks. "Khrenovuha", "birch", "suharnik" will stand for a year. Spotykach and mead will keep for at least six months. But moonshine with fruit is best used within three months. Of course, standards protect against poisoning and other consequences, in fact, a pure drink can be stored longer. But moonshine with any additives is really better to use during the year.

The main thing that limits and prohibits the standards is the use of chemicals, sweeteners and flavorings. Raw materials for manufacturing must be natural, a technology for cleaning from fusel oil and oils is provided.

The last obligatory item is the environmental conditions, which are important for the drinks to be preserved. This item includes room temperature, humidity and UV exposure. These parameters help to speed up or slow down chemical reactions with moonshine, so it is important to create the right conditions for pure distillate.

A container with a drink will be well stored in a room where direct sunlight does not fall. The temperature in it is at the level of 5-20 degrees Celsius, and the air humidity is quite high - 85%. It is necessary to periodically check the drink, look at its appearance, and also monitor the tightness of the lid.

Storing moonshine is as important a step in the process as preparing a drink. Storage methods are different and require different degrees of attention. Therefore, using the tips and rules, you can savor this drink longer and safer for health.

Not everyone knows that the cloudiness of moonshine and the appearance of sediment in the form of flakes is a sign of unsuccessful storage. At the same time, the quality also becomes significantly worse. However, if there are suitable storage conditions, moonshine can please humanity for years.

What container is suitable

A flask for moonshine is considered one of the most important points, on which not only the quality, but also the duration of storage of any strong alcohol directly depends. So, where to store alcohol? Since alcohol can cause a certain reaction with dishes, this will lead to the release of harmful substances, therefore it is recommended to store alcoholic beverages in special containers, namely:

in a plastic bottle;
in a glass container;
in wooden and steel containers.

At the same time, containers for aluminum or iron moonshine are categorically not suitable for storing alcohol in it. Therefore, you should not store vodka in an aluminum bottle, since alcohol will definitely react with aluminum, which will result in the formation of a precipitate that is very harmful to human health.

It is best to store moonshine in real vodka bottles with their native corks. Before use, they must be thoroughly washed, dried, and checked for odors that could spoil the aroma of the final product.

Alcohol in a plastic container

As mentioned above, alcohol is a very active substance that can react with interacting materials. It is for this reason that when choosing dishes for storing it, you should be especially careful and think carefully about whether it is possible to store the product in it.

The current plastic is quite resistant to chemicals, however, when choosing such a container, it is better to choose a suitable place for storage, as such material burns well.

At the same time, it should be remembered that it is not recommended to store alcohol in a plastic container for a long time, because after a while not only the aroma, but also the taste of alcohol can change.

Glass jars and bottles

Glassware is best for storing moonshine or other strong homemade drinks. As you know, this material never reacts with alcohol and makes it possible to preserve the original properties of drinks for a long time. In other words, the shelf life of alcohol in a hermetically sealed glass jar is almost eternal.

Justifying the foregoing, we can conclude that the main thing in long-term storage of moonshine is tightness, since alcohol tends to evaporate quickly. After all, even a poorly screwed cap or cork can become a real reason for a decrease in the strength of alcohol as a result of evaporation. Thus, only water remains.

If we are talking about a bank, then steel lids are best suited here. They are both safe and quite reliable, and capron, from which covers are also made, emits harmful substances that can harm the human body.

Using an oak barrel

In the old days, alcohol was always stored in oak barrels, which made it possible to get a good aroma and taste, since it is in such containers that various processes take place that make the drink much better.

The smaller the size of the barrel, the less time you need to keep the drink, respectively, when long-term storage is planned, then a large size of the barrel will be required here. In addition, before using such a container as a barrel, it must be prepared.

Storage in stainless steel tanks

Stainless steel barrels are commonly used to hold alcohol in industrial plants. Such food stainless steel is a safe container. She will not react with alcohol. This container is better to cook, not solder. The use of such containers is well suited for both the storage of alcoholic beverages and the preparation of mash in it.

How to store

Regardless of what kind of cookware you are going to use, you must also take care of proper home storage conditions. First of all, you need to think about how the sun's rays do not fall on the container. You will also need to maintain an optimal and uniform room temperature. Moonshine can be stored in refrigeration, but not in the freezer. To prevent the alcohol from evaporating, the dishes will need to be tightly corked.

In addition, you can not store alcohol in containers that are not intended for food purposes, as this can irrevocably spoil the cooked product. It is also undesirable to place the contents in crystal decanters, as this may adversely affect human health.

In other words, when wondering how to store moonshine, it is worth remembering that it cannot be poured into flasks where substances such as gasoline or glue used to be, since it is unlikely that it will be possible to wash such dishes.

For very large sizes, it is advised to use stainless steel canisters, as it will not interact with alcohol, like glass, and for this reason is completely safe. However, aluminum cans and enamelware are not suitable here.

In addition, it is strictly not allowed to store alcoholic beverages that are stronger than 20 degrees in plastic containers. Naturally, moonshine can be stored in special plastic dishes, but such material is rarely found on sale.

In order not to constantly think about how to properly store alcohol, it is best to place the container with the contents in a dark room with a temperature of 5 to 20 degrees and a relative humidity of 85%. At the same time, it will be mandatory to check from time to time how the drink looks and how tightly it is closed.

An important nuance is the fact that in addition to the ban on copper and iron containers, there is another law for the storage of alcohol, namely, plastic containers can only be used if it bears the inscription "for products",

In addition, all containers used must be clean. When washing, it is advisable to add soda to warm water, and the inside of the barrels after washing can be fumigated with sulfur.

In order for the quality of moonshine or any other homemade alcohol to remain unchanged for many years, you need to learn how to properly store it. Then after years you will be able to enjoy a delicious homemade drink, after a long storage, it becomes even much better. Let's figure out how to store moonshine so that it remains tasty and strong.

Container for moonshine

Container for moonshine is an important factor on which the quality and shelf life of strong alcohol depends. The high alcohol content can cause a chemical reaction with the material of the dish and lead to the release of harmful impurities. More often, homemade alcoholic drinks are stored in the following dishes:

plastic
glass
Wooden
Steel

Containers made of iron, galvanized steel or aluminum are not acceptable for storing alcohol.

Let's answer the question: is it possible to store moonshine in a plastic water bottle? Modern plastic is resistant to strong chemicals. If you pour moonshine into a plastic bottle or jug labeled PET and PEHD/HDPE, you won't have to worry about it melting the bottom. If you plan to store it in plastic bottles, make sure they are placed in a cool place where there is no open flame, as plastic is highly flammable. The type of plastic is squeezed out at the bottom of the bottle.

But it is better not to store alcoholic alcohol-containing drinks even in high-quality plastic dishes for a long time. During a long period of storage in such containers, the taste and aroma of an alcoholic beverage may change.

Glass bottles are the best containers for storing moonshine and other alcoholic beverages. This material does not enter into a chemical reaction with alcohol and ensures long-term preservation of the original properties of the drink. How long moonshine is stored in such dishes does not matter, because the shelf life of moonshine in a hermetically sealed glass bottle is almost eternal.

An antique glass liquor bottle with a narrow, long neck that holds a quarter of a 12.3-liter bucket of liquid is called a quarter. When asked, a quarter of moonshine is how many liters, then this capacity in metric equivalent is 3.075 liters.

Moonshine can be stored in oak barrels as it was done in the old days. It will not work to preserve the original taste and aroma, but in the barrel it gets an additional pleasant aroma and taste, as various processes take place in the oak barrel that improve the drink. The barrel “sighs” and oxygen freely penetrates inside, the process of alcohol oxidation takes place and the alcohol is saturated with pleasant aromas.

The smaller the volume of the barrel, the shorter the exposure time, if you hold it too long, then the taste will deteriorate, the so-called "skirting" will turn out. If very long storage is planned, then the volume of the barrel should be large.

No need to buy barrels with a faucet, it can leak a lot. Alcoholic beverages are poured into such decorative barrels before guests arrive.

Stainless steel tanks

Stainless steel barrels are commonly used to store alcohol in industrial plants. Food grade stainless steel is safe as it does not react chemically with alcohol. The stainless steel container should have been welded, not soldered. Stainless steel containers are a great option for storing alcohol, they are also perfect for making mash in it.

Storage conditions

Regardless of the type of dishes, you need to know how to store moonshine and create the right conditions for storage:

Keep container out of direct sunlight
Maintain a constant and optimal room temperature
It is allowed to store homemade moonshine in the refrigerator, but not in the freezer
Close storage containers tightly, as alcohol may partially evaporate from improperly closed containers.

You can not pour moonshine into containers that are not intended for food products, there is a very high risk of irretrievably spoiling the distillate. Many pour alcohol-containing drinks into crystal carafes with ground stoppers and leave them for a long time. But crystal contains up to 30% lead oxide, so such a drink can become hazardous to health.

If the crystal clear moonshine has become cloudy, a precipitate in the form of flakes has appeared in it - this indicates improper storage. For internal use, such a drink is no longer suitable.

Turbidity of crystal clear moonshine (if more than 10 days have passed after dilution with water) and (or) the appearance of a precipitate in the form of flakes is a sign of improper storage. Often, not only the appearance deteriorates, but also the quality. We will consider the parameters that affect the shelf life of moonshine. By creating the right conditions, the drink can be left for decades. But just one mistake can ruin a product irrevocably. All the above tips are also relevant for other strong drinks: vodka, ethyl alcohol, cognac, whiskey, etc.

1. Container. The most important factor on which the shelf life of strong alcohol depends by 80-90%, since alcohol is an active substance that reacts with most materials, which is fraught with the release of harmful impurities. At home, glass bottles, bottles and cans for preservation are ideal packaging options.

It is better to use bottles from state-owned vodka (with a “native” cork), into which no other substances were poured. If there were food or liquids in the containers even for a short time, then the containers must be thoroughly washed and dried before use, and then checked for the presence of foreign odors that could spoil the aroma of the distillate.

Another prerequisite for containers for storing moonshine is tightness. In the open air, alcohol evaporates quickly. Even a poorly screwed cork (lid) can cause a decrease in strength due to evaporation, leaving only water. Corks should fit snugly on the neck of the bottle.

It is better to roll up cans with steel lids, since they are more reliable and safer than nylon ones. Nylon is one of the types of plastic that, when in contact with alcohol, can release harmful substances, this will be discussed later.

Metal lids are preferable to nylon ones

It is impossible to pour moonshine into containers where non-food products, such as gasoline or glue, were previously stored, since it is very difficult to wash such containers with a guarantee, the risk of irretrievably spoiling the distillate is very high.

For very large volumes, industrial stainless steel barrels are recommended. Food grade stainless steel, like glass, does not react with alcohol, so it is safe. But aluminum cans and enamelware are not suitable.

Food grade stainless steel barrels are a good solution for large volumes

It is strictly forbidden to store moonshine and other alcoholic beverages with a strength above 15-20 degrees in plastic containers, the only exception is a special one designed for strong alcohol plastic, but this material rarely appears in retail sales.

Alcohol corrodes most plastic bottles, as a result, moonshine becomes cloudy, flakes or loose sediment appear at the bottom, and an unpleasant odor. There were times when alcohol "burned through" thin plastic through and through.

Cloudy moonshine in a plastic container

But even if moonshine has not visually changed after storage in a plastic bottle, this does not mean that the drink is safe, many harmful substances cannot be determined organoleptically (by taste and smell). When alcohol reacts with different types of plastic, carcinogens such as formaldehyde (phenol) and styrene are released.

Many home distillers prefer to store moonshine in oak barrels. Sometimes such a decision is justified, but this method has a number of disadvantages. First, you need to purchase and create normal storage conditions, including temperature and humidity, then periodically check the safety of the barrel. Secondly, evaporation should be taken into account - regardless of the volume, losses at best will be about a liter of filled distillate per year. Thirdly, the taste of moonshine will change. Therefore, I consider barrels as a method of preparing a separate drink, but not a container for storage.

After aging in a barrel, moonshine changes color and taste

2. Composition. Moonshine may contain third-party additives (except for alcohol and water): sugar, citric acid, herbal extracts, fruits, berries, other substances that improve the aroma or taste of moonshine, as well as essential oils and other impurities resulting from improper distillation and (or) cleaning. It is impossible to predict how all these substances will behave during long exposure.

It all depends on the composition, concentration and chemical reactions of third-party components between themselves on the one hand, and alcohol on the other. Usually, natural additives precipitate or become cloudy when exposed to direct sunlight, which only worsens the visual perception of the drink, but does not affect the quality.

The general rule here is to store moonshine with additives for no more than a year, and for several years and longer, lay only well-purified distillate or alcohol diluted with high-quality water without the addition of third-party substances.

3. Conditions. The right temperature and humidity, along with the lack of sunlight, will block or slow down most chemical reactions. This is very important in the case of storing moonshine with additives, but it is also desirable to create optimal conditions for a "clean" distillate, especially if the drink is stored for a long time - 3-10 years.

I recommend placing the container with moonshine in a dark room (or at least protect it from direct sunlight) with a temperature of 5-20 ° C and a relative humidity of 85%. Be sure to periodically check the appearance of the drink and the tightness.

Video: Kiwi tincture at home - a simple recipe for vodka

Video: Cleaning moonshine with activated carbon. How to clean moonshine? DIY carbon filter

Another prerequisite for containers for storing moonshine is tightness. In the open air, alcohol evaporates quickly. Even a poorly screwed cork (lid) can cause a decrease in strength due to evaporation, leaving only water. Corks should fit snugly on the neck of the bottle.

Metal lids are preferable to nylon ones

Barrels made of food grade stainless steel - a good solution for large volumes

It is strictly forbidden to store moonshine and other alcoholic beverages with a strength above 15-20 degrees in plastic containers, the only exception is a special one designed for strong alcohol plastic, but this material rarely appears in retail sales.

Cloudy moonshine in a plastic container

Many home distillers prefer to store moonshine in oak barrels. Sometimes such a decision is justified, but this method has a number of disadvantages. First, you need to purchase and prepare a barrel for use, create normal storage conditions, including temperature and humidity, then periodically check the safety of the barrel. Secondly, evaporation should be taken into account - regardless of the volume, losses at best will be about a liter of filled distillate per year. Thirdly, the taste of moonshine will change. Therefore, I consider barrels as a method of preparing a separate drink, but not a container for storage.

After aging in a barrel, moonshine changes color and taste

The general rule here is to store moonshine with additives for no more than a year, and for several years and longer, lay only well-purified distillate or alcohol diluted with high-quality water without the addition of third-party substances.

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