The first step in making mash is heating 5-gallon water to roughly 165 °F in a mash pot. Turn off the heat once 165 °F is reached. Immediately pour the maize into the water and stir for 3-5 minutes. After that, stir for 5-10 seconds every 5 minutes until the temperature drops to 152 °F. At this point, the corn starts to gel.
Step 1. Making the Mash First of all, it’s very important to keep your equipment perfectly clean. Any contamination will affect the final product. Now, pour 6 gallons of water into your mash pot and heat it to 165°F. Turn off the heat and add cracked corn. Corn should be ground in order to break down and release starch. Don’t overdo it, though.
For example, bourbon mash bills (and Tennessee whiskeys) require at least 51% corn. Traditionally, most bourbon makers use a mash bill recipe made from corn, rye and malted barley, and often with 60-70% corn. Rye is considered to be the flavoring grain here with malted barley playing a small supporting role.
Moonshine mash is usually made with corn, sugar, yeast, and water and allowed to ferment for 5-10 days. A sugar wash can be made with just water and yeast and no grains to make moonshine or spirits. How Much of Moonshine Will 5 Gallons of Mash Make? For a 5-gallon mash recipe, the yield will be about 3 quarts on average of 130 proof.