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Lyndsay Cordell
Drinks

This Sweet Tea Moonshine is Meant For Porch Sippin'

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There's nothing better than a glass of iced tea on a hot day unless we're talking about moonshine sweet tea. The combination of sweet tea and moonshine makes for a refreshing cocktail you'll love for front porch sipping and backyard cookouts. This recipe infuses moonshine with a sweet tea simple syrup for a simple, tasty twist on everyone's favorite summer drink, Southern sweet tea. Tea cocktails are a great way to change it up. And if you are into health and wellness, the tea leaves give your body plenty of antioxidants along with the moonshine. Everything in moderation, right?

What is Moonshine?

sweet tea moonshine cocktail

Lyndsay Cordell

During prohibition, moonshiners used to make illegal spirits in stills under the shine of the moon to avoid detection from the authorities. Made of corn, most moonshine made today is considered corn whisky and legally distilled by companies such as Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine and Bill Elliott's Moonshine.

Sweet Tea and the South

While sweet tea wasn't invented in the South, it was in the states that ice was added, making it a refreshing drink to cool off with. Most purists state that the only way to serve sweet tea is with lemon, but we like the addition of moonshine with this recipe. It's fitting, because before prohibition, sweet tea was normally served with alcohol!

How To Make Sweet Tea Moonshine

how to make sweet tea simple syrup

Lyndsay Cordell

To make the simple syrup, combine pure cane sugar, water, and fresh lemon juice in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Drop in the tea bags and steep. You can choose your favorite tea here: plain black tea or a flavored tea such as peach tea. When the tea has steeped, let it cool completely.

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tea bags steeping

Lyndsay Cordell

Next, combine the cooled simple syrup with moonshine (like Ole Smoky Distillery out of Tennessee) and honey and stir well.

Pour the liquid into 8-ounce mason jars, seal the jars and place them in dark place. When you're ready to make your new favorite summer cocktail, mix the sweet tea moonshine with lemon-lime soda, sparkling water, and honey. Then go sit on the porch a spell and enjoy!

Sweet Tea Moonshine

A classic Southern porch sipper, sweet tea gets an upgrade when you infuse it with grain alcohol to form Sweet Tea Moonshine.

Sweet Tea Simple Syrup

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice
  • 5 tea bags ((Choose your favorite!))

Sweet Tea Moonshine

  • 750 ML moonshine
  • 1 cup honey

Sweet Tea Cocktail

  • 4 oz Sweet Tea Moonshine
  • 3 oz lemon lime soda
  • 1 oz Sparkling water
  • 1 tbs honey
  • Lemon slices for garnish

Sweet Tea Simple Syrup

  1. Combine sugar, water, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil.
  2. Reduce heat to a simmer and steep tea bags for prescribed amount of time on package.
  3. Cool completely.

Sweet Tea Moonshine

  1. Combine Sweet Tea Simple Syrup, moonshine, and honey into a large bowl. Stir to combine.
  2. Separate into 8-ounce mason jars. Seal and store in a dark place, preferably your pantry or out of direct sunlight.
  3. Combine Sweet Tea Moonshine, lemon lime soda, sparkling water, and honey in a glass. Stir to combine.

Sweet Tea Moonshine Cocktail

  1. Add crushed ice. Garnish with lemon slices if necessary.
  2. If you want to go bold, feel free to use our Lemon Moonshine recipe in place of lemon lime soda, but be warned that this drink is potent.

Moonshine infusions will keep for up to a year and the longer you let it be, the better it tastes. Consider adding a dash of this moonshine to your cup of tea when you're under the weather.

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