13 Best Moonshine Cocktails and Drink Ideas

Moonshine cocktails have been gaining popularity in recent years – and for good reason!

These once-illegal spirits are boozy, fun, and sure to liven up your next party.

Moonshine Cocktails & Drink Recipes

If you’re hoping to add a little southern charm to your next cocktail hour, try these stunning moonshine cocktails!

This clear, potent liquor used to be the drink of choice for bootleggers and outlaws.

But it’s been given a modern twist for a whole new generation of cocktail lovers.

So break out your mason jars because I know you’ll adore these moonshine drinks.

1. Apple Pie Moonshine Cocktail

What’s more American than apple pie? Apple pie moonshine, of course!

It’s like your favorite apple cider, only way more potent!

You won’t believe how smoothly these cocktails go down. I adore Midnight Moon, but any moonshine will do.

Either way, the bright apple flavor, and gentle sweetness make it the ideal drink for any season. 

Ingredients: apple pie moonshine, apple juice, cinnamon simple syrup, lemon juice, apple slices & cinnamon sticks (for garnish)

2. Moonshine Margarita

If you want something bright and zesty, you have to try this moonshine margarita. 

It features the classic marg flavors of orange and lime. To that, you’ll add some grapefruit soda and Virginia Moon white whiskey.

It’s tart and tangy with just a hint of sweetness. If you’re a margarita lover, this drink is for you. 

Ingredients: Virginia Moon White Whiskey, grapefruit soda, lime juice, orange juice, simple syrup

3. Moonshine Mule

Even a traditional Moscow Mule can benefit from a bit of moonshine.

And if you’re a fan of the classic cocktail, you’ll know from the name exactly what goes inside – moonshine instead of vodka.

It’s still full of zippy lime and a nice ginger kick. The moonshine just makes the overall taste a little warmer.

I suggest Ole Smoky (original or White Lightning)!

Ingredients: fresh ginger, moonshine, crushed ice, ginger beer, lime twist (for garnish)

4. Key Lime Pie Moonshine Cocktail

Do you love key lime pie? If so, you’ve got to try this key lime pie moonshine cocktail.

It has some sensational bold flavors that really taste like a delicious dessert. And it all starts with a base of moonshine and key lime juice.

Add a dash of vanilla simple syrup to help sweeten it, then serve it over ice with a lime wedge. Yum!

Ingredients: Climax moonshine, key lime juice, vanilla simple syrup, ice cubes, lime slice (for garnish)

5. Moonshine Pomelo Cocktail

I love the pretty pink hue of this grapefruit juice and moonshine cocktail.

It’s a little sweet with a lot of sour, but it’s not overwhelming. Instead, it’s balanced and smooth.

Of course, it’s probably not for anyone who prefers things dessert-level sweet.

Ingredients: simple syrup, moonshine, grapefruit bitters, ruby red grapefruit juice, ice cubes, twist of pomelo (for garnish)

6. Cherry Limeade Cocktail

Remember those fantastic cherry limeades you drank as a kid? Well, these cocktails taste just like that, and they’re crazy easy to recreate. 

You’ll need three ingredients (plus a lime wedge garnish) and about two minutes – tops! 

And remember, the alcohol in these is all in the cherries. So don’t forget to indulge in those. They’re scrumptious and very boozy. 

Ingredients: Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries, lemon-lime soda (or lime and lemon juice with club soda), lime slices (for garnish)

7. Lemonade Moonshine

Is there any drink more perfect for summer than lemonade? It’s pretty hard to beat, but so is this lemonade moonshine.

It’s a sweetly tart masterpiece featuring 151-proof liquor. 

It has all the perks of lemonade too. It’s refreshing and gives you a nice sugar rush without being overly sweet.

Want a pop of color? Add a raspberry or two to the glass.

Ingredients: water, sugar, moonshine (151-proof alcohol), lemon juice

8. Mojito Moonshine

Of all these moonshine recipes, I have a feeling this mint drink will be the most popular.

It’s light, bright, and full of lime and minty goodness. In fact, of all the options here, this mojito moonshine is probably my favorite.

It tastes so fresh and clean and is one of the best mojitos you’ll ever try. 

Ingredients: mint, limeade, moonshine (191 proof), light rum, simple syrup, ice, mint sprig (for garnish)

9. Pineapple Moonshine

You won’t be surprised to hear this pineapple moonshine is sweet, tropical, and wonderfully fruity.

It’s the kind of cocktail you’d drink while lounging on a Hawaiian beach with waves lapping at your toes.

It’s definitely not your Uncle Willy’s Tennessee moonshine, that’s for sure. And if you want it sweeter, try adding peach schnapps!

Ingredients: orange juice, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, Torani pineapple syrup, orange zest, moonshine, sugar

10. Epcot’s Blackberry Moonshine Sour Recipe

Want something a bit more unusual? How about a deeply flavorful, berrylicious moonshine drink for the summer?

It’s loaded with blackberry moonshine and blackberry simple syrup, plus fresh berries for garnish and a hint of citrus.

If you like blackberry lemonade, you’ll love it!

That said, if you can’t find blackberries, feel free to use strawberry moonshine and strawberry syrup instead.

Ingredients: blackberry moonshine, blackberry simple syrup, lemon juice, blood orange sour mix, fresh blackberries (for garnish)

11. Tennessee Cream Soda

As the name suggests, this moonshine cocktail recipe tastes a lot like cream soda – bubbly, creamy, and vanilla infused with a healthy kick of booze!

It calls specifically for Ole Smoky Butterscotch Moonshine, making it incredibly rich and caramelly.

If you can’t find that, use regular moonshine and vanilla vodka, instead.

Ingredients: Ole Smoky Butterscotch Moonshine, Ole Smoky White Lightnin’, cream soda, Ole Smoky Moonshine Cherries (for garnish)

12. Basil Peach Moonshine Cocktail

First of all, how gorgeous is this drink?

The slippery golden peaches look lovely pushing against the white ice cubes and green basil leaves. 

Needless to say, it smells incredible too. The peach and basil complement each other flawlessly, giving you a warm sweetness in every sip.

Then, there’s the moonshine and a bit of simple syrup to balance the whole thing. Every sip is like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. 

Ingredients: peach slices, basil leaves, moonshine, simple syrup, ice, peach slice (for garnish)

13. Strawberry Moonshine Jam Cocktail

Yes, you read that right. Strawberry moonshine jam cocktail.

There’s real strawberry jam in the mix, so expect something sweet (super sweet) and fruity with a wallop of strawberries.

It’s not thick and sticky, though. Instead, this moonshine jam cocktail tastes like a typical strawberry drink. 

I know it sounds a little weird, but try it anyway. You might be surprised by how much you like it. 

Ingredients: strawberry jam, lemon juice, moonshine, club soda, ice cubes, lemon twist & fresh strawberries (for garnish)