While we were in Gatlinburg on our Dollymoon, we stopped by the Ole Smoky Moonshine Holler to check out the distillery operation and sample some shine. Lemon Drop was one of our favorite flavored moonshines that we tried. If you mix it with iced tea you get a hillbilly Arnold Palmer, which seems like it’s about the perfect simple summer cocktail. We like to add about two shots of the lemon moonshine to a mason jar filled with ice and then fill the rest with tea and a lemon slice. Adding some mint is pretty tasty, too.

Now if you can’t get to Gatlinburg to pick up some of the flavored Old Smoky Moonshine, you may still be able to find their original moonshine in your area. This stuff is made with 80% corn and comes out at 100 proof. While it definitely has an interesting flavor too it, I was surprised how much the aroma reminded me of Cachaça. I thought I’d try to adapt a recipe and see what happened.

Tropicália Moonshine Punch

1 good chunk of pineapple
3 sprigs of mint
1/2 oz basil lime syrup*
2oz Original Old Smoky Moonshine
1 dash orange bitters
1 dash grapefruit bitters
bottle of Limonata or lemon-lime soda

Add all the ingredients except soda to a mixing glass and muddle, add ice and shake. Strain into an ice filled highball glass and top with soda. Garnish with a lime wheel.

This recipe is a modified version of Primo Avenue Punch from Bitters, and I was pleasantly surprised how well it turned out. The flavor of the moonshine holds up to everything, and it really makes for a nice summer cocktail.