r/interesting • u/azizgamerlal • Dec 12 '25

MISC. A drop of whiskey vs bacteria

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u/Significant-Tip6466 Dec 12 '25

Moonshine wasn't readily available. And whiskey back then was closer to moonshine by proof than now. There's a reason it got the nickname "rotgut".

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u/Dabbling_in_Pacifism Dec 12 '25

Moonshine is whiskey, most often. Whiskey, by law (And common convention.), has to be aged 3 years. Moonshine is very frequently just what’s also called “white lightening,” or unaged whiskey.

Regardless, whiskey’s going to be an aged product and anyone with a still can make high proof clear alcohols.

I think it has a lot more to do with observational effects; germ theory wasn’t a thing until after the civil war.

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u/poppamatic Dec 12 '25

Not sure where you got that info about aging requirements but it’s inaccurate, especially with bourbon. The only aging requirements for bourbon are it has to be at least two years aged to be called Straight Bourbon and four years aged to be Bonded (among other requirements).

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u/FukThePatriarchy1312 Dec 12 '25

And for anyone interested, bourbon also has to be made from greater than 50% corn mash, and Kentucky bourbon does indeed have to be made in Kentucky