Changing the color of moonshine with natural dyes. How to tint moonshine - we make colorful drinks
Making vodka from alcohol at home, the recipe of which is quite simple, is an alternative to expensive factory-made alcohol. Besides, home product from quality raw materials it turns out even better.
But it's important to remember that overuse alcohol is harmful to health, and homemade alcohol is prohibited for commercial sale.
There are many recipes for making vodka from alcohol, and all use alcohol and water. The quality of these components will depend on the quality finished product. To prepare vodka from alcohol at home, you need to go through several stages of preparation.
Water
The first step in the preparation of vodka from alcohol is the choice of water and alcohol itself. Many recipes recommend using pure spring water, but regular bottled water may work. It is important to choose clear water with a minimum salt content. Therefore, when buying water, you must carefully study the label. The composition should indicate how much salt the water contains. And softness can be determined visually: the more transparent the water, the softer it is.
In order to make vodka, you can not use distilled or boiled water, since such a liquid loses its beneficial features and does not dissolve alcohol well.
Alcohol
The main ingredient is alcohol homemade vodka suitable ethyl or medical. There is no particular difference between them. Medical alcohol- ethyl, diluted with a certain amount of water. It is necessary to choose alcohol of the highest degree of purification; the product obtained from wheat and rye is considered the highest quality.
To further calculate correct proportions, it is necessary to accurately determine the strength of alcohol. This can be done with special device, which measures the density of a liquid - a hydrometer. Or use our online calculator, which will accurately determine the strength of your drink.
The second stage is the preparation and selection of other additional ingredients. AT this case it all depends on the recipe. For example, classic vodka prepared with the addition of glucose solution. To give the drink an extra taste, various components are used, such as:
- citrus juices,
- nutmeg,
- hot red pepper, etc.
It all depends on individual taste preferences.
Attention! According to the current Russian legislation, it is absolutely legal to produce any alcoholic beverages for personal consumption. But selling a bottle of even the highest quality homemade products to a neighbor is an act punishable under the criminal code..
Mixing
The third stage is mixing the components. To obtain the best vodka, you need to accurately measure everything and connect in the correct proportions.
At this stage, it is necessary to determine the strength of the finished alcoholic drink and it depends on the amount of water.
- Additional ingredients, as a rule, have almost no effect on the degree of the finished product.
- Most often prepare vodka 40 °.
- To get such a fortress, they take alcohol and water in a ratio of 1: 1.3.
- For 100 ml of alcohol 90 ° use 130.8 ml of water.
- Note that vodka with a strength of 40 ° is considered the most optimal for consumption.
Many sources present a special table with proportions to make it easier to dilute alcohol, but it is worth remembering that there is important rule, which affects the quality of the drink regardless of the proportions taken.
How to dilute alcohol? An important rule in the compound is the addition of alcohol to water, and not vice versa. This technique allows you to get a clear, not cloudy drink. After the alcohol is added to the water, it is necessary to mix the resulting liquid very well. Mix thoroughly in a container with a lid by shaking.
The question of how to paint over moonshine at home arises not only among novice distillers. This topic haunts even very experienced moonshiners. The fact is that the human body is arranged in a special way, it not only reacts to smell and taste, but also perceives the visual component of the drink, that is, its color and transparency.
And this means that drinking alcohol of one shade or another can be more pleasant. For this reason, some lovers of making moonshine at home intentionally tint it using various methods.
Why color the distillate?
You can color moonshine in several ways, but the fact is that dyes help not only change the shade of the drink. They are able to mask the turbidity of moonshine, as well as affect its taste characteristics and smell.
Moonshine coloring
Sugar, glucose or fructose makes the drink softer. For this reason, painting alcohol with orange peels, lemon peels or using for this purpose various fruits and sugar syrup, you can get an unexpected effect. Not only the color of moonshine will change, but also its taste.
In fairness, it should be said that dyes of natural or other origin do not improve the taste of moonshine, they only mask the flaws.
At home, you can use everything that is in the kitchen and in the refrigerator: food, spices and spices. They will help change the color and other characteristics of the drink and affect its taste.
You can turn a nondescript drink into cognac, whiskey or other distillate that appearance will resemble elite alcohol.
Some fragrances can remove the smell, which is almost calling card moonshine. It can be difficult to eliminate it, but if you use certain substances, you can easily get rid of sharp and bad smell and give the distillate home production subtle aroma.
What is used to color moonshine?
You can use various components, while it is not necessary to buy expensive dyes, you can use everything that is at hand.
How to paint moonshine at home:
- You can use tea and coffee.
- Various herbs that have an aroma.
- The color and smell of caramel will give the drink burnt sugar.
- Lemon and orange can give moonshine transparency and at the same time add notes of citrus aromas.
- Nuts, you can use walnuts and pine nuts.
- Various spices that have a pronounced aroma.
- Cornflower or chicory flowers.
- Dried berries will fill the alcohol useful substances and change its smell.
You can quickly add aroma to the drink and slightly improve its taste with tea or coffee. By adding a small amount of coffee or tea to alcohol, you can end up with alcohol that will resemble cognac or expensive whiskey in appearance.
Various herbs are able to fill the distillate with their aroma, you can use St. John's wort, lemon balm, mint, even parsley. Moonshine is simply poured over plants. The drink is infused for some time, then filtered - this helps to endow the distillate not only with a smell, but also with some useful substances.
Better than lemon zest, not a single flavor works on moonshine. You can use crusts, fruit pulp and even juice. Lemon is used as a means to clarify the distillate. And also with its help you can give the drink a pleasant golden hue.
A good recipe to help change the color of moonshine includes nuts. It is known that tincture on nuts has healing properties. Moonshine can be given a pleasant golden brown hue not only by nut kernels, but also by partitions that are easy to assemble and place in distillate.
Spices that are used to prepare certain dishes can give alcohol a specific flavor. They will also easily change the color of moonshine, make it bright and pleasant to drink.
You can use cornflower or chicory flowers, fresh or dried flowers will do, they will give the tincture a nice blue color.
Dried blueberries are used to color a cloudy or clear distillate deep red or red-violet.
Since tinting or coloring takes place using natural flavors, alcohol will change for the better as a result of the procedures performed. The point is not only in color and smell, but also in the fact that some substances improve the taste characteristics of the distillate, make it softer and more pleasant, remove bitterness and aftertaste.
Recipes
Tea and coffee will help to paint moonshine under cognac. If you supplement the recipe with oak bark, you can get alcohol of good quality.
To make homemade cognac, you will need the following ingredients:
- 20-30 roasted coffee beans;
- 5-6 sprigs of cloves;
- 1 lemon;
- sugar;
- water.
It’s worth starting with the preparation of syrup, it will need about 50 grams. The syrup is prepared by mixing sugar and water in a ratio of 1 to 1. When the syrup is ready, it is cooled and poured into a jar, and moonshine is also sent there. Then take a lemon coffee beans and cloves, all sent to the distillate.
You can decorate a lemon, give it a spice, for this, grains and sprigs of cloves are stuck into the fruit.
After 3-4 weeks, the drink will be ready to drink. Sediment may fall to the bottom of the jar, for this reason the distillate should be filtered. After filtering, you can submerge the lemon in a bottle or jar as a decoration.
If everything is done correctly, then as a result it will be possible to get a drink that will not differ much from cognac.
Another simple recipe will help change the color of moonshine, but will have little effect on its taste. The drink will be ready in 1 hour.
- 6–10 grams instant coffee, you can use ground.
- Moonshine - 0.5 liters.
- Sugar syrup.
Cooking sugar syrup, then we dissolve coffee in it, mix everything thoroughly and pour the resulting mixture into alcohol. You will have to mix constantly, for this use a spoon or spatula made of wood. Then we send the container to the refrigerator. After 60 minutes, alcohol will be ready to drink.
St. John's wort will help to give a homemade distillate a pleasant shade and make it look like whiskey.
To achieve the similarity of the drink with elite alcohol would need:
- Drive the moonshine through the distiller again to make it stronger. You can use distillate with a strength of 50-60 degrees.
- 150 grams of dried St. John's wort, it can be purchased at a pharmacy. Grass is simply poured into moonshine and waited for 7 days. After this time, the drink will be ready to drink.
The taste of such a tincture will be specific, but in color it practically does not differ from whiskey.
You can just insist moonshine on tea. To do this, you need 1 teaspoon of quality raw materials and 1 liter of distillate. Tea will be able not only to change the color of the drink, but also to give it a flavor, if used, in addition to tea, dried barberry or other flavors.
It will take about 3-4 days to insist moonshine on tea, gradually it will change shade, this process can be controlled.
Prunes will help turn ordinary distillate into alcohol, similar to cognac. It should be washed, and then placed in a jar of glass with moonshine. Only 100 grams of prunes will give the distillate a resemblance to real cognac from Armenia.
After 7-10 days, home-made cognac will be ready to drink. The duration of infusion can be changed depending on the taste preferences of the consumer.
You can make lemon vodka, for this you need only three ingredients:
- Sugar.
- Water.
- Lemon.
We prepare syrup from water and sugar, then we take a jar and pour alcohol, syrup and lemon juice into the container. In addition to the juice, we place the lemon zest and its peel in a jar. We infuse the drink for 7-10 days cool place. Then it is necessary to filter the moonshine through a dense cloth, cool and consume in moderation.
Cinnamon, turmeric and other spices will help to add flavor to the distillate - you can put them in a steamer or just insist alcohol on seasonings. But, most importantly, do not overdo it, because some spices have a pronounced smell and taste.
Parsley and dill will help improve moonshine, if you chop the herbs finely and place them in alcohol, you can see how it acquires a pleasant green tint and aroma.
Scientists conducted research, the results of which showed that the perception of the drink depends on its color. With the help of a fragrant coloring component, you can give moonshine refined taste and aroma, as well as remove sharp and bad smell, which for some people is a reason not to drink such alcohol. Many are interested in how to paint over moonshine so that there is no smell. You can do it yourself according to the chosen recipe, you just need to prepare the necessary components.
Black tea coloring
Using black tea, you can change the shade of moonshine at home. To do this, you need to add 1 tsp to the moonshine. black leaf tea. The container with the liquid is tightly closed with a lid and allowed to brew. For rich color you have to wait 5 days. Gradually, the drink will change its shade. You can stop staining at the moment when the color of alcohol becomes to your liking.
This changes not only the color of the liquid, but also its smell. To completely eliminate it, you can add tea with bergamot. Spices in a small amount can be mixed with loose leaf black tea. It will be combined with a carnation, which is enough to add up to 3 buds.
If the question arose about how to paint over moonshine, then you should pay attention to citrus fruits. To improve the taste and smell, you can use the peel from citrus fruits.
- White pulp is removed from the fruit.
- To change the smell, you only need the zest, which must first be dried.
- A sour taste, a light green tint and a pleasant aroma will be obtained after adding the lemon peel.
- For 1.5 liters of drink, add the zest of 1 medium-sized lemon.
A sour taste and pleasant smell can be achieved by adding the peel of 1 medium orange. Thanks to its zest, the smell of alcohol will become more pleasant. In addition, the orange will give the drink a beautiful yellowish tint. The time of infusion on the zest is 7 days at room temperature.
Leaves of parsley, mint, horseradish or lemon balm, combined with citrus peel, will improve the smell of moonshine, which must be strained so that sediment does not appear.
With the help of prunes
This method will be appreciated by fans homemade cognac. Thanks to prunes, the drink acquires a rich cognac color. The taste of the drink also improves. It does not turn into cognac, but, having a pleasant taste and aroma, it can be an excellent substitute for it on the festive table.
To paint it (paint over moonshine for cognac), about 40 g of prunes will be required per 1 liter. Taste, color and aroma are completely dependent on prunes. By changing its quantity, you can get the desired drink. The duration of infusion of moonshine on prunes is from 8 to 12 days.
On walnuts and pine nuts
You can paint moonshine with nuts. Walnuts barriers need to be cleared. To infuse 1 liter of drink, you need to prepare up to 15 nuts. Infusion time - 7 days. The smell of the drink will become less sharp, and the taste will become more pleasant.
In case of pine nuts more efforts need to be made to delicious drink. First, 150 g of nuts are boiled or roasted. Thanks to this procedure, the nuts are cleaned of excess resin. After that, they are added to alcohol and allowed to brew. Time to insist good drink is 30 days.
An effective way to stain and eliminate odor is to add burnt sugar. This process is also called the caramelization of an alcoholic beverage. Using this method leads to the fact that alcohol acquires a specific flavor that not everyone will like. The staining procedure is carried out as follows:
- 3 tbsp are placed in the pan. l. granulated sugar, heat it over low heat until the sugar becomes liquid;
- cooked caramel is added to 3 liters of moonshine;
- the drink is thoroughly stirred and removed for a day in dark room or a cupboard so that the alcohol fully takes on the aroma of burnt sugar.
This method of painting over moonshine is often used, but doctors warn of a danger to human health. Burnt sugar in combination with moonshine negatively affects the functioning of the pancreas. For this reason, the drink can be consumed in small quantities, and in the presence of diseases of this organ, it is better to refuse to take such alcohol.
Instant coffee
Using instant coffee for coloring is a common way to change the color and smell of moonshine. Coffee has the ability to instantly change the taste of alcohol. To do this, add 1 tsp. instant coffee to 2 liters of alcohol.
Tinting is carried out at the moment when the alcohol already has the desired level of strength. If you add the ingredient to undiluted moonshine, and then dilute it with water, then the alcohol will become cloudy.
To get a delicious drink in a short time, the following recipe will be useful:
- first, sugar syrup is prepared, the amount of granulated sugar for it is chosen to taste;
- then you need to dissolve 10 g of coffee in it;
- the resulting mixture is poured into moonshine and mixed thoroughly.
Such alcohol can be consumed within an hour, but the smell of alcohol will be present.
You can use complicated recipe, for which, in addition to instant coffee, you will need bay leaf, peppercorns, leaf tea, vanillin, a pinch of soda and sugar.
Moonshine is poured into an enameled container and put on fire. This will require a lid, as alcohol will evaporate. As soon as the moonshine is heated, all components are placed in it, except for granulated sugar - it must be added when the alcohol mixture boils. After the sugar is completely dissolved, the liquid must be cooled and poured into glass jars or bottles. There is no unpleasant smell in such alcohol, but it also has a specific taste.
St. John's wort tincture
Staining of moonshine is also carried out with the help of herbs. Such a medicinal component as St. John's wort can give the drink a rich brown tint. To 3 liters of alcohol add 2.5 tbsp. l. dry and crushed leaves of the plant. The liquid is mixed, and the container is tightly closed with a lid and placed in a dark place for 7 days. Every day you need to shake a bottle or a jar of moonshine. After 1 week, the drink is recommended to be filtered.
When using this method, you need to be careful. St. John's wort must be collected in environmentally friendly places. Take into account when drinking alcohol medicinal properties of this herb: the plant has a powerful calming effect, for this reason the intake of tincture should be limited to 200 ml per day.
Food colorings
Many people like to use food coloring when coloring alcohol. It is suitable for quick shade changes. A rich choice of colors makes the method particularly attractive. The disadvantage of food colorings is their interaction with alcohol. Not every substance is able to react with moonshine, so when buying a dye, you need to read the instructions.
A popular and sought-after recipe for painting moonshine is to add orange peels. They will give the drink a golden hue. For cooking fit only dried zest without white pulp, as it will add bitterness to the drink.
- To prepare alcohol with pleasant smell you will need to dry the peel from 1 orange and 2 lemons.
- This amount is enough for 2.5 liters of moonshine.
- In order for the drink to be tasty and have a pleasant aroma, it is necessary to infuse it for 2 weeks.
Conclusion - which is better?
Adding to moonshine various ingredients changes its color and taste qualities, but it is not always possible to get rid of the unpleasant odor. Food colorings do not affect the aroma and taste in any way, therefore they are not suitable for improving moonshine. This option is suitable for those who want to experiment with a touch of alcohol.
Instant coffee eliminates the smell of moonshine, but not completely. To achieve a complete absence of smell, additional components will be needed.
The simplest and effective way completely remove the unpleasant odor is the use of citrus fruits. They give pleasant taste and the smell of moonshine. The choice depends on taste preferences. It is important to properly prepare this ingredient so as not to spoil the drink with bitterness.
The appearance of the drink subjectively affects the perception of its taste. Psychologists have proven that with the right color scheme, alcohol can seem tastier than it actually is. Ladies are especially sensitive to the color of alcohol. The problem of transparent moonshine is being solved natural dyes, best recipes which we will consider next.
1. Black tea. The easiest way, practically does not affect the taste. For 3 liters of moonshine, it is enough to add 1 tablespoon of high-quality black tea (not from a bag), mix, close the jar tightly with a lid and leave for 3-5 days in a dark place.
Every day the shade will change, ranging from cognac light brown to rich black. Lovers of beautiful smells can infuse moonshine on dry tea with the aroma of barberry, bergamot, or add a clove bud along with tea leaves.
2. Orange (lemon) peels. Clean up specific smell poorly purified moonshine, a pleasant sourness appears in the taste. The addition of lemons makes moonshine light green, oranges - slightly yellow with a golden hue. For refining, only pre-dried peel is suitable, preferably without white pulp, which gives bitterness.
Recipe: put the peel of one medium orange or two lemons on 3 liters of moonshine, leave for 10-14 days in a sealed closed jar at room temperature.
3. Prunes. great way paint over moonshine under cognac, adding interesting flavor notes to the drink that are found in Armenian cognacs. For three-liter jar moonshine will need 100 grams of prunes, after 7-10 days of infusion moonshine will change color, a pleasant aroma will appear and the taste will soften. The duration of exposure can be changed at your discretion.
4. Nuts and partitions. The simplest solution: for 7 days, throw in 1 liter of moonshine partitions from 15 walnuts then strain through cheesecloth. The taste and color of the drink will change beyond recognition.
Somewhat more complicated, it requires preliminary evaporation of the nuts, which removes excess resin, then 30 days of exposure. But the result is worth it, if there are enough fruits (150 grams of nuts per liter of moonshine), I advise you to try.
Tincture on pine nuts 5. Caramel (burnt sugar). A well-known method for making fake cognacs and whiskeys. To paint moonshine in a pleasant yellow, you need to heat a tablespoon of sugar over a fire until brown, then add the finished caramel to 1 liter of moonshine and mix until completely dissolved.
Attention! Some doctors believe that burnt sugar combined with alcohol has a bad effect on the pancreas, but I have not seen scientific studies on this. Even French cognacs are tinted with a little caramel.
6. Instant coffee. Quickly changes the color of moonshine and interrupts an unpleasant smell. New notes appear on the palate. It is enough to add half a teaspoon of coffee per liter of moonshine. After coffee, it is no longer possible to dilute the drink with water, otherwise it will become cloudy, and filtration will not help, only distillation.
7. St. John's wort. Colors moonshine in light brown color. Tincture recipe: add 1 tablespoon of dried St. John's wort per 1 liter of moonshine, mix, tightly close the jar and put in a dark place for 7 days. Shake once a day, then strain through cheesecloth.
Remember that St. John's wort - medicinal plant with a strong sedative (calming) effect. Do not drink more than 300 grams of this tincture at a time.
8. Food coloring. A good option for those who urgently need to tint moonshine. With the right dye, you can get any color without affecting the taste and smell. The main thing is to create a natural shade and follow the instructions on the label exactly. Not all food colorings combined with alcohol, you need to find out from the sellers before buying.
Among moonshiners, many oppose quick tinctures, believing that real taste and a rich fragrant bouquet of alcohol is able to open up only after several months of settling. However, if the guests are due to arrive one of these days, and there is nothing ready in the storerooms, then there is only one salvation - preparation quick tincture on vodka. Today you can find a huge variety of such drinks, including horseradish, lemon vodka, and herbal alcohol. Recipes fast alcohol quite simple, so they can be used by both experienced and novice moonshiners.
Little tricks
To prepare homemade tinctures in the shortest possible time, you can use a few tricks, namely:
To get a beautiful and unusual shade of vodka tincture, you can insist it on various natural coloring additives. For example, Blue colour the drink can be obtained with the help of cornflowers, a purple tint will give sunflower seeds, and yellow - saffron.
Quick homemade alcohol recipes
Check out interesting recipes tinctures fast food and please your loved ones with unusual, but at the same time simple alcohol.
Recipe number 1. Quick cranberry
One of the most simple options drink - cranberry tincture. You can cook it 
for 12-15 hours. The drink is easy to drink, its taste is soft, reeking of sourness. For tincture you will need:
- vodka - 0.5 l.;
- cranberries - 150–200 gr.;
- sugar or honey - optional.
Cranberries must first be doused with boiling water. To do this, it is folded into a container, poured hot water and keep it there for about 3 minutes. When the berries are ready, the liquid is drained from them, rubbed with a wooden mortar, and then poured with alcohol.
After 12 hours, the tincture is passed through the filter, sugar or honey is added to it, mixed thoroughly and placed in a saucepan for slow fire. The solution is brought to a boil, removed from the stove, cooled and served.
According to the people who made this drink, optimal amount sugars are 2 tbsp. l.
Recipe number 2. mint moonshine
A fragrant moonshine drink can be prepared in 2-3 days. You only need 1 liter of alcohol and 2 dessert spoons dry mint. The grass is poured with moonshine and insisted for a couple of days in a dark place. The resulting liquid must be carefully filtered (first through gauze, and then through cotton wool). If desired, you can add a little honey, mix well and wait another day.
Quick mint moonshine is good to drink, and spicy herb in the composition causes an unusual chill in the stomach after use.
Recipe number 3. Limonovka
Among vodka tinctures a place of honor is occupied by alcohol infused with citrus fruits. 
The drink turns out to be invigorating, tasty and incredibly fragrant. Vodka tincture will require the following ingredients from you:
- vodka - 3 liters;
- lemon zest from 6 fruits;
- sugar - 0.8 kg;
- water - 1.5 l.
The skin is carefully cut from lemons, cut into thin strips or rubbed on a grater, poured with vodka for a day. After that, sugar syrup is prepared. Pour water into a saucepan, pour sweetener into it, put on a slow fire and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil. The foam formed on the syrup is removed. It is better to boil the solution twice, and then cool to room temperature.
After that, both liquids (syrup and infusion of zest) are combined in an enameled or glassware, mix well, let it settle a little. The drink is bottled and kept cool for long-term storage.
Do not worry if the lemon juice immediately after cooking is a little cloudy. In just a couple of days, all the sediment will disappear, and you will get a fragrant transparent alcohol with a yellowish tint.
Recipe number 4. Homemade quick cognac
Prepare cognac original recipe possible in just 2 weeks. For a drink 
will need:
- vodka or diluted alcohol - 3 liters;
- carnation - 6-8 inflorescences;
- granulated sugar - 7 tsp;
- nutmeg and cinnamon (powder) - ½ tsp each;
- vanilla - ¼ tsp;
- coffee (preferably instant) - 1 tbsp. l.;
- citric acid - 1 tsp.
Alcohol is poured into a glass container, the rest of the ingredients are added to it, everything is thoroughly mixed, covered with a lid and left for 2 weeks in a place inaccessible to sunlight. As time passes, the cognac tincture for alcohol is filtered and bottled. The drink is suitable for both second courses and sweets.
Recipe number 5. horseradish
Fans of spicy strong drinks can be advised to cook horseradish. For tincture you will need:
- horseradish - 5 roots;
- red pepper (dried) - 10 pcs.;
- honey - 2-3 tbsp. l.;
- vodka - 3 l.
It is better to choose medium-sized peppers, as otherwise the drink will be too spicy.
Pepper and horseradish cut into small pieces, put in a bottle, add honey and pour vodka. Infuse the mixture for 7 days in a cool place. Shake the container periodically. When the drink is ready, it is filtered, bottled and put in the refrigerator. Cool the horseradish a little before use.
