You can’t create a quality shine without a quality still. If you want to run the best, you need to use the best. This leaves many wondering where to find a moonshiners still for sale.

While most people are aware of the docuseries Moonshiners, for those who may have been living under a rock, here is a rundown:

Moonshiners follows those who are keeping the traditional art of moonshining alive by running moonshine in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

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The series is a great way for those interested in moonshining to learn both basic and advanced moonshine techniques. While the shiners are undoubtedly running their shine on a much larger scale than the average Joe, their equipment and recipes can be easily adapted for the at-home shiner.

Stainless Steel Moonshiners Still

Of course the size and scale of the stills used on Moonshiners is considerably larger than what most shiners could fit in their home or garage, it is important to look at the elements and materials of their stills, rather than the stills themselves.

While many traditional moonshiners insist on copper stills, this is not the case with Moonshiners.

With such large equipment involved, often what is seen on Moonshiners is a combination of steel and copper. They use large steel barrels combined with copper pipes to create their stills.

This is a great option as both stainless steel and copper are excellent conductors of heat. This allows for heat to be dispersed evenly and creates a more even distillation.

So why are Moonshiners not opting for a copper still? The reason for this is likely the same reason why modern shiners often don’t use copper stills: cost.

While copper is expensive, it isn’t the only factor in this decision. Copper can also often be difficult to clean and maintain. However, stainless steel is a much easier material to upkeep.

Copper Moonshine Still

While copper may be more difficult to maintain it is a necessity to create a quality shine.

While it is not always economically feasible to craft your entire still out of copper, having copper elements on your still can dramatically improve the taste of your shine.

The reason for this is simple. Copper reacts to the sulfurs put out by the fermenting yeast in your shine on a molecular level. The sulfur coming from the yeast will bind itself to the copper creating copper sulfate. While the process can create a bit of a mess (which is why copper is more work to maintain), it also makes for much better tasting shine.

This process has the ability to neutralize the sulfur taste and smell in your shine. Without a copper element, you run the risk of your shine becoming bitter and not as smooth.

What Are The Best Moonshine Stills For Sale?

With what we know about these two materials, the best option for a moonshine still is often a combination of these two materials. After all, that is what we are seeing on Moonshiners-a combination of large steel barrels and copper pipes.

When purchasing a moonshine still for yourself, the same principle can be easily applied. Many at home stills feature a combination of these two materials, making them economical with great results.

The Copperhead All-in-One Moonshine Still Kit by How to Moonshine is a great option for those who want to take their moonshining to the next level.

This all-in-one still is a great example of a stovetop still that is both easy to use and produces great results. Its large 5.5 gallon barrel (21 litres) allows for large enough runs to produce plenty of shine but is still small enough to be easy to store and use.

In addition, the Copperhead is able to act as both a still and a fermentor. This can not only save you money, but also valuable storage space. The Copperhead makes moonshine simple and easy and at just $225, it is a great value.

Traditional Moonshine Still For Sale

Of course, you can also keep history alive with a more traditional moonshine still. The Pot Still 8 gallon Traditional is a great option for those who want to run their shine the same way their ancestors did.

The Pot Still is a traditional design complete with a goose neck tower, which is great for keeping flavors in your shine.

This milk can still can be used with both a propane burner or 120 v controller. While this design does not come with a thermometer, a more seasoned shiner can go the traditional route of determining fractions by smell or taste.

This pot still may not include copper in the design, however, you are able to add copper mesh in order to neturalize the sulfur in your mash. It is offered at $430 by Mile Hi Distilling.