These moonshine cocktails are a great way to showcase this versatile spirit! Discover our top choices, best mixers, and perfect snacks to go with these moonshine-based drinks, too. 🫙
Moonshine is a strong alcohol made from corn that has a powerful kick but a surprisingly smooth taste.
Scottish and Irish immigrants brought moonshine to the United States in the 18th century. Its name “moonshine” comes from making it secretly at night to avoid paying taxes.
While moonshine is often enjoyed straight, it has also become a foundation for cocktails, ranging from margaritas to martinis.
If you’re interested in creating some fantastic moonshine cocktails in the comfort of your own home, here are a few recipes to try out.
- #4 Basil Peach Moonshine Cocktail is full of summer flavor.
- Enjoy your favorite apple pie in the form of an #8 Apple Pie Moonshine Cocktail!
- #12 Moonshine Mule Cocktail is a fresh twist on the classic Moscow Mule.
- #16 Lavender Blackberry Moonshine is a vibrant flavor bomb in every sip.
- #20 Kahlúa Moonshine Martini is both tasty and visually stunning.
Snacks That Go Well With Moonshine Cocktails
Moonshine cocktails usually need a spot of food to temper the tantrum, and we curated just the right snacks for you. Here are a few ideas:
- Spicy nuts. The heat from spicy nuts, such as almonds or mixed nuts, can create a nice balance in the cocktail.
- Cheeses. Creamy and mild cheeses mellow out the flavors of moonshine cocktails.
- Pickles. Sour pickles, usually cornichons or gherkins, are great cocktail garnishes.
- Jerky. Probably not a surprise: jerky has a smoky flavor that brings out the best in moonshine.
- Popcorn. The light and crispy texture of popcorn contrasts with the strong flavors of the drink.
- Dark chocolate. Moonshine’s slight sweetness pairs delightfully with dark chocolate.
- Pretzels. Salty pretzels (tried Dot’s Original yet? So addicting.) pair well with moonshine cocktails.
- Fresh fruit. It contrasts the strong flavors of moonshine with a refreshing and hydrating boost.
- Sausages. Little Smokies, slices of kielbasa, and even vienna sausage all provide a tasty and protein-rich choice that pairs well with moonshine.
- Olives. On the bar for a reason, the briny and salty taste of olives pairs well with moonshine.
- Deviled eggs. Protein-rich and filling, these savory snacks offer a delectable sidecar to moonshine cocktails.
Best Moonshine Cocktails
This tropical cocktail combines the sweet flavor of coconut with a boozy kick. The toasted coconut flakes on the rim of the glass also give a nice crunch and a beautiful presentation.
Ingredients line: Moonshine, coconut milk, lime juice, ice, and mint.
The moonshine cherries add a sweet-tart flavor to this sipper, while the mint and lemon provide a refreshing flavor boost. The seltzer water helps to keep it light and refreshing, making it an ideal drink for any occasion.
Ingredients line: Mint leaves, lemon wedge, cherry moonshine, and seltzer water.
This summer cocktail highlights the vibrant flavors of fresh strawberries infused with homemade strawberry jam and moonshine. The jam helps to dissolve the ice, so expect this drink to be nice and cold.
Ingredients line: Strawberry jam, lemon juice, moonshine, strawberries, and club soda.
Basil Peach Moonshine Cocktail is a festive drink to serve at parties or barbecues. The peaches and basil add light and fruity flavor to the cocktail, while the moonshine gives a bit of a kick.
Ingredients line: Peach, basil, moonshine, ice, and moonshine.
Here’s another cocktail recipe that features moonshine. The mixed drink is garnished with fresh blackberries and cayenne pepper. Every sip offers a tart, sweet, and slightly spicy flavor.
Ingredients line: Moonshine, pineapple juice, club soda, blackberries, and pineapple.
This Key Lime Pie Moonshine Cocktail fuses the tart taste of key lime juice with the sweet vanilla simple syrup and the smooth climax moonshine. Garnish with a few slices of lime for a touch of elegance.
Ingredients line: Moonshine, key lime juice, vanilla simple syrup, ice, and lime.
This Moonshine Margarita is a fun variation of the traditional margarita cocktail. While it isn’t a true margarita because it doesn’t contain tequila, the drink has a similar flavor thanks to the smoky notes of the moonshine.
Ingredients line: Lime juice, orange juice, sugar, and moonshine.
This moonshine cocktail captures the cozy feeling of autumn. It’s adorned with apple slices and a cinnamon stick and has a warm, spiced flavor that’s reminiscent of apple pie.
Ingredients line: Apple cider, vanilla vodka, apple pie moonshine, simple syrup, and apple.
This recipe stands out for its use of huckleberry syrup, which adds a distinct and vibrant flavor to the moonshine mixed drink. The addition of blueberries adds a tart-sweet note, while the moonshine gives the cocktail a smooth kick.
Ingredients line: Blueberries, moonshine, blueberry syrup, pineapple juice, and mint.
This tasty cocktail blends moonshine and sage. The honey and sage syrup adds a hint of sweet and herbal flavor to the moonshine, while the bitters provide a bit of complexity to the drink.
Ingredients line: Water, honey, sage, bitters, and moonshine.
This cocktail recipe uses Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine, which gives it a smoky taste. The combo of grenadine and pineapple makes the drink look pretty and adds a sweet-tart flavor as well.
Ingredients line: Pineapple moonshine, pineapple juice, grenadine, lime, and pineapple chunks.
12. Moonshine Mule
This Moonshine Mule recipe is easy to follow, even for beginners. It only requires a few basic ingredients and simple steps, and moonshine adds some excitement to every sip.
Ingredients line: Ginger, moonshine, ice, ginger beer, and lime.
Peachy Rainier Cherry Moonshine is a sweet, tart cocktail made with fresh peaches and Rainier cherries. Enhanced by moonshine, it delivers a smooth and fruity experience that pleases any crowd.
Ingredients line: Peach, rainier cherries, moonshine, and vanilla simple syrup.
This easy-to-make cocktail is a sweet and boozy delight, featuring apple pie moonshine. For a sweeter flavor, feel free to add more apple cider. If you prefer a stronger drink, incorporate more moonshine.
Ingredients line: Apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and apple pie moonshine.
This Thyme To Shine cocktail is a well-balanced and flavorful drink made with fresh thyme simple syrup. The syrup is infused with sugar, giving it a subtle herbal flavor that pairs well with the tart lemon juice and the creamy egg white.
Ingredients line: Thyme simple syrup, moonshine, lemon juice, orange, and egg white.
This Lavender Blackberry Moonshine recipe blends fresh blackberries and lavender for a delicious mix of sweet, tart, and floral flavors. With the addition of moonshine, it becomes even more enjoyable for guests of all ages.
Ingredients line: Dried lavender flowers, monin blackberry, moonshine, and agave nectar.
Strawberry Rosemary Moonshine Cocktail features sweet strawberries and subtle herbal notes of rosemary. Muddled strawberries, shaken with ice, strained and garnished with a rosemary sprig.
Ingredients line: Strawberries, vanilla simple syrup, moonshine, ice, and water.
This Moonshine Mimosas cocktail reinvents the classic mimosa with a rustic twist, using moonshine instead of champagne. Served in mason jars with a caramel rim and cinnamon sugar garnish.
Ingredients line: Caramel apple dip, sugar, cinnamon, moonshine, and champagne.
This recipe mixes fresh strawberries and moonshine for a twist on the classic cocktail. Its vibrant, salty-sweet flavor makes it an ideal choice for summer gatherings.
Ingredients line: Strawberries, lemon juice, sugar, and cold water.
This boozy drink merges the smooth kick of homemade moonshine with Kahlua’s rich-sweet flavor. Combining these two flavors creates a rich, smooth, and flavorful martini that’s bound to impress.
Ingredients line: Kahlúa coffee liqueur, and moonshine.
What To Mix With Moonshine
From fizzy drinks to fruity infusions, here are some popular mixers that blend well with your moonshine liquor:
- Ginger ale. A bubbly and slightly spicy mixer that adds a refreshing kick to moonshine.
- Club soda. Effervescent and neutral, club soda enhances the smooth taste of moonshine without overpowering its flavor.
- Tonic water. A bitter-sweet mixer that complements the strong taste of moonshine, often used in classic cocktails.
- Cola. A classic choice for a sweet and fizzy mix, cola adds depth and caramel notes to moonshine.
- Lemonade. Tangy and refreshing, lemonade pairs well with moonshine, creating a zesty combo.
- Orange juice. A citrus that adds a bright and juicy twist to moonshine, ideal for fruity cocktails.
- Pineapple juice. Tropical and sweet, pineapple juice balances the strong taste of moonshine with a tropical flair.
- Cranberry juice. A tart and slightly sweet mixer that adds a nice tang to moonshine, great for creating balanced cocktails.
- Grapefruit juice. Bittersweet grapefruit juice enhances the natural flavors of moonshine, creating a lively blend.
- Apple cider. A seasonal favorite, apple cider brings warmth and a hint of spice to moonshine, ideal for fall-inspired cocktails.
- Peach nectar. Smooth and fruity, peach nectar lends a luscious and sweet flavor to moonshine, always reminiscent of summertime.
- Watermelon juice. Refreshing and subtly sweet, watermelon pairs well with moonshine, providing a light and hydrating mix.
- Sweet tea. A Southern classic, sweet tea adds a sweet note and a smooth texture to moonshine.
- Coconut water. A tropical mixer that imparts a subtle sweetness and a hint of nuttiness to moonshine, great for exotic cocktails.
- Lime juice. Tart and tangy lime juice add a zesty and refreshing twist to moonshine, enhancing its flavors with a lick of citrus.
The bottom line
Moonshine has been cherished by many for its distinctive taste and versatility for centuries.
It can be enjoyed straight from the bottle or mixed with different ingredients to make great-tasting cocktails.
If you choose the latter, we hope you’ll experiment with this list and find your new go-to cocktail.
20 Best Moonshine Cocktails 🫙
These are the best moonshine cocktails we've found online. These recipes temper this extra strong liquor into a smooth adult beverage you’ll love.
Ingredients
- Frozen Toasted Coconut Moonshine
- Cherry Shine Summer Sipper
- Jam Cocktails: Strawberry + Moonshine
- Basil Peach Moonshine Cocktail
- Blackberry Moonshine Cocktail
- Key Lime Pie Moonshine Cocktail
- Moonshine Margarita
- Apple Pie Moonshine Cocktail
- Huckleberry Hooch Moonshine Cocktail
- Moonshine & Sage Cocktail
- Smoky Mountain Sunrise With Ole Smoky Moonshine
- Moonshine Mule
- Peachy Rainier Cherry Moonshine
- Warm Spiked Apple Cider
- Thyme To Shine - A Moonshine Drink
- Lavender Blackberry Moonshine
- Strawberry Rosemary Moonshine
- Moonshine Mimosas
- Strawberry Salty Dog Moonshine
- Kahlúa Moonshine Martini
Instructions
- Scroll for your favorite Moonshine Cocktails.
- What ingredients do you have on hand?
- Enjoy responsibly! And share this list with your peeps!