Homemade Apple Pie Everclear Moonshine (+ Cocktail Ideas)

Published June 23, 2022
Apple Pie Everclear

Ingredients

  • 750 mL bottle Everclear
  • 64 ounces apple cider
  • 64 ounces apple cider
  • 1½ cups brown sugar
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • 6-8 whole cinnamon sticks, halved
  • Sealable jars

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, add apple juice, apple cider, sugar, and cinnamon sticks to a boil.
  2. Stir to dissolve sugar.
  3. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat and stir in Everclear.
  5. Allow to cool completely before straining into resealable jars.
  6. Tightly seal and store in a cool, dry place for 4 to 6 weeks.

When you mix it all together, you have apple pie moonshine. Never drink Everclear straight or as a direct add-in to a cocktail. Store, tightly sealed, in a cool, dry place. It should last for up to three years. Once opened, keep in the fridge and use within about three weeks.

Variations and Substitutions for Apple Pie Everclear

Easily modify the above recipe to suit your preferences, from a little extra spice flavor to something a little less sweet.

  • Add several dashes of nutmeg, a tablespoon of cloves, star anise, or a half to a whole vanilla bean to the mixture.
  • Experiment with apple cider and apple juice ratio, using more apple cider for more complex flavors or less apple cider for a crisper apple juice flavor.
  • Bourbon or rye will add a new layer of flavors. Include up to 12 ounces but stick to those that are middle-shelf; do avoid bottom or top-shelf.
  • Use half to full cup less sugar for a moonshine that's a bit less sweet.
  • Toss in two to three cored and cubed apples before adding the Everclear. Mash the softened apples and strain out with the other spices before storing the mixture.

Apple Pie Moonshine Cocktails

After all that work, you deserve a cocktail that makes your homemade apple pie Everclear moonshine, well, shine.

Apple Pie Moonshine Punch

Apple Pie Moonshine Punch

This punch cocktail puts to rest all the assumptions that a moonshine cocktail should have an overwhelming burn and bite.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces apple pie Everclear moonshine
  • 1½ ounces cranberry juice
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice
  • Lemon-lime soda to top off
  • Lemon wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, apple pie moonshine, cranberry juice, orange liqueur, and lemon juice.
  2. Shake to chill.
  3. Strain into highball glass over fresh ice.
  4. Top off with lemon-lime soda.
  5. Garnish with lemon wedge.

Moonshine Margarita

Moonshine Margarita

Don't fear the moonshine margarita. This margarita won't leave you knocked off your feet, as the moonshine is a replacement for the tequila. It's easy enough and great for those who aren't tequila fans.

Ingredients

  • Lime wedge and sugar for rim
  • 1½ ounces apple pie moonshine
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ¾ ounce orange liqueur
  • ¾ ounce agave
  • Ice
  • Lime wheel for garnish

Instructions

  1. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the glass with the lime wedge.
  2. With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
  3. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, apple pie moonshine, lemon juice, lime juice, orange liqueur, and agave.
  4. Shake to chill.
  5. Strain into prepared glass.
  6. Garnish with lime wheel.

Moonshine Sour

Moonshine Sour

Whiskey riffs are a great place to start with your moonshine cocktails, and a sour is no exception. The egg white adds a savory balance to the bite of the apple pie moonshine.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces apple pie moonshine
  • 1 egg white
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
  • ¾ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice
  • Lemon wedge and cherry for garnish

Ingredients

  1. In a cocktail shaker, add apple pie moonshine, simple syrup, lemon juice, and egg white.
  2. Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
  3. Add ice to shaker.
  4. Shake to chill.
  5. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
  6. Garnish with lemon wedge and cherry.

Moonshine Mule

Moonshine Mule

This recipe is absolutely one of the easiest moonshine cocktails to whip up. It's flavorful, fizzy, and bold.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces apple pie moonshine
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Ginger beer to top off
  • Lime wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a copper mug or rocks glass, add ice, apple pie moonshine, and lime juice.
  2. Stir to mix.
  3. Top off with ginger beer.
  4. Garnish with lime wheel and mint sprig.

Southern Moonshine Sweet Tea

Southern Moonshine Sweet Tea

Pair the singular flavors of southern sweet tea with your soon-to-be-legendary apple pie moonshine.

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces apple pie moonshine
  • ½ ounce allspice dram
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice
  • Sweet tea to top off
  • Lemon wheel and mint sprig for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a cocktail glass, add ice, apple pie moonshine, allspice dram, and lemon juice.
  2. Top off with sweet tea.
  3. Stir to mix.
  4. Garnish with lemon wheel and mint sprig.

Apple Pie Moonshine Old-Fashioned

Apple Pie Moonshine Old-Fashioned

There's nowhere for the apple pie moonshine flavors to hide in an old-fashioned. And isn't that exactly how you want it to be? As the rightful star.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces apple pie moonshine
  • ¾ ounce simple syrup
  • 2-3 dashes orange bitters
  • 4-5 dashes aromatic bitters
  • Ice
  • Orange ribbon and cherry for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a mixing glass, add ice, apple pie moonshine, simple syrup, and bitters.
  2. Stir rapidly to chill.
  3. Strain into rocks glass over fresh ice.
  4. Garnish with orange ribbon and cherry.

Harder Cider

Harder Cider

You know hard cider. But meet harder cider, a boozier version that'll make traditional hard cider look like child's play.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces apple pie moonshine
  • 2 ounces ginger ale
  • Ice
  • Hard cider to top off
  • Lemon slice for garnish, optional

Instructions

  1. In a highball glass, add apple pie moonshine and ginger ale.
  2. Top off with hard cider.
  3. Stir to mix.
  4. Garnish with lemon slice, if desired.

What Mixes With Apple Pie Moonshine?

These mixers make for great options if you're looking to craft your own original apple pie Everclear cocktails or you're looking for a quick and easy way to drink your apple pie moonshine.

  • Apple cider
  • Ginger beer
  • Ginger ale
  • Cranberry juice
  • Pineapple juice
  • Lime juice
  • Lemon juice
  • Simple syrup
  • Allspice dram
  • Prosecco
  • Iced tea or sweet tea

Easy Apple Pie Everclear Moonshine

There's something incredibly mysterious about moonshine: the lore, the process, where to start. It can be overwhelming. But moonshine is one of the easiest liquors to make at home, and it all begins with a few fall staples and a bottle of Everclear. After that, you're halfway to admiration from family and friends as they woo you to give them a jar.

Can't get enough of these delicious fall flavors? Try apple pie vodka and cocktails.

Homemade Apple Pie Everclear Moonshine (+ Cocktail Ideas)