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A Moonshine Moment
This is not your grandfather’s moonshine. Throw out your preconceived notions of hillbilly firewater with a harsh finish and blinding hangover. Traditionally made with corn mash, and in secret, moonshine is enjoying a bit of a renaissance.
Belle Isle Craft Spirits is a Richmond company started in 2013 that makes premium moonshine, handcrafted with 100% organic corn and distilled locally in copper stills. In the 1800s, Richmond’s Belle Isle Manufacturing produced copper kettles, in which the world’s first premium moonshine was distilled. Today, Belle Isle Craft Spirits pays homage both in name and in the quality of its spirits.
Belle Isle Moonshine is smooth enough to drink on the rocks but is more often mixed in a punch or a cocktail. Bars and restaurants are embracing the versatility and flavor of this local spirit. We met with several of RVA’s best mixologists to discuss their philosophies on using premium moonshine, and gladly sampled the finished products. We found five delicious local cocktails that feature Belle Isle Moonshine, click on the right to see the recipes.
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