Blackberry Moonshine

Blackberry Moonshine Recipe

Do you have wild blackberries growing on your property or in your garden? This homemade blackberry moonshine recipe requires only a few simple ingredients and a little patience to wait for fermentation. This blackberry brandy recipe can also be diluted to make homemade blackberry wine.

Health Benefits of Fresh Blackberries

Blackberries are widely known for their anticancer properties, due to their abundance of antioxidants. Studies have shown that regular consumption of blackberries is effective at reducing the risk of esophageal, cervical, and breast cancer. Blackberries are also known to relieve hemorrhoids and intestinal inflammation. Blackberry leaves can also ease mouth ulcers, and a blackberry compress was historically used on external wounds for its antimicrobial properties and to reduce bleeding.

Harvesting Blackberries for Moonshine

Harvesting fresh blackberries can be tricky when foraging through the timber. Blackberries have thorns, so wearing good shoes or boots along with durable jeans can help prevent injury. Most blackberries will produce a crop ready for harvest by July through August. If you need to store blackberries until enough are harvested, you can store blackberries in the freezer (blackberries have a very short shelf life).

Blackberry Moonshine Ingredients

• Blackberries: Ah, the dark and mysterious blackberries, the very essence of your mead’s soul. They bring a burst of fruity goodness and an enchanting hue to your brew. Plus, they’re an excuse to go on a fun berry-picking adventure in the wilderness (or the grocery store)!
• Honey: The nectar of bees, liquid gold, the sweetest of sweeteners! Honey is the backbone of your mead. It provides the necessary sugars for fermentation and imparts a luscious, honeyed aroma to your creation. Remember, bees worked hard to make that stuff, so use it wisely!
• Water: The universal solvent, the elixir of life, the quintessential ingredient in every brew (unless you’re into dry mead, in which case, you do you). Water dilutes the honey and blackberry goodness to the perfect level of sweetness and drinkability.
• Wine Yeast (Optional): If you’re feeling rebellious and want your mead to ferment like there’s no tomorrow, toss in some wine yeast. It’s like inviting a professional party planner to your fermentation fiesta. Adding yeast to the recipe can jump-start the fermentation process, yielding homemade moonshine in fewer months. If you are using home-grown blackberries (not store-bought), adding yeast is not necessary because of the natural yeast found on the surface of the blackberry. Store-bought berries are loaded with preservatives and chemicals that prevent the fermentation process, giving the berries a longer shelf-life. Adding yeast will be necessary when using store-bought berries.
• Yeast Nutrient (Optional): For those who truly want to pamper their yeast and ensure a smooth, trouble-free fermentation, yeast nutrient is like a spa day for those tiny microorganisms. It’s not mandatory, but it’s a kind gesture to ensure your yeast friends perform at their best.
• Raisins (Optional): Raisins are the divas of the mead world. They bring more than just themselves to the table; they provide essential nutrients and complexity to your mead. This also allows the flavors to linger in the mouth longer, and also gives off a slight caramel taste. Adding raisins may also increase the sweetness of the drink (great for dessert alcohol).

Equipment Needed for Winemaking Recipes

There is no need to purchase expensive wine making kits for making blackberry moonshine, when all you need is a few pieces of equipment: (This list includes Amazon affiliate links.)

• 1 gallon primary fermenter with an airlock lid or 5-gallon primary fermenter with an airlock lid
• 1 gallon carboy or 5 gallon carboy
• Siphon
• Flip top bottles (not needed until after 5-6 weeks of fermenting)

How to Make Blackberry Moonshine

1. This blackberry moonshine recipe defaults to make 1 gallon, however, you can click the 5x to make 5 gallons of blackberry moonshine.