Making Diesel and Moonshine Liquor from Flounders in Pensacola, Florida

Making Diesel Fuel from Flounders in Pensacola, Florida

The beautiful beaches and emerald green waters of Pensacola, Florida provide the perfect backdrop for a unique kind of moonshine - diesel liquor made from flounders! This unusual concoction has quite a fascinating history rooted in the Prohibition era. Keep reading to learn all about how to make diesel fuel from flounders, the underground history of diesel liquor in Pensacola, and where you can still find this one-of-a-kind spirit today.

The Origins of Diesel Liquor in Pensacola

During Prohibition in the 1920s and early 1930s, bootleggers got creative in order to secretly supply people with alcohol. One inventive solution was to make liquor by fermenting various foodstuffs that contained natural sugars capable of being distilled into alcohol. In the Pensacola area, an abundance of flounders from the Gulf of Mexico led some enterprising bootleggers to start experimenting with the fish as a base for their secret liquor operations.

It was discovered that the oils and proteins in flounder flesh could be broken down into simple sugars and distilled into ethanol, the same type of alcohol found in traditional liquors. The resulting spirit had a distinct diesel-like aroma and flavor profile, leading to its nickname as "diesel liquor." As speakeasies and underground bars popped up around Pensacola to covertly serve alcohol during Prohibition, diesel liquor made from flounders became a local specialty.

How to Make Diesel Liquor from Flounders

The process of making diesel liquor from flounders involves:

• Catching or buying fresh flounder fillets
• Mixing the flounder flesh with water and fermenting agents like yeast or malted barley
• Allowing the mash to ferment for 1-2 weeks to convert sugars into alcohol
• Distilling the fermented mash in a still to concentrate the alcohol
• Flavoring and diluting the distillate to achieve the desired diesel flavor profile

It takes about 15-20 pounds of flounder fillets to produce 1 gallon of the finished diesel liquor. The key to getting the distinctive diesel character is letting the mash ferment for an extended period of time before distilling. This allows complex organic compounds in the fish to break down into aromatic fusel alcohols, giving diesel liquor its kerosene-like smell and taste.

The Underground Popularity of Diesel Liquor

During the 13 years of Prohibition, diesel liquor made in secret stills became a coveted item on the underground drinking scene in Pensacola. Taverns, restaurants, and nightclubs would secretly serve diesel liquor shots and cocktails to patrons in the know. It developed a reputation as a smooth, potent liquor with a rebellious flair.

Bootleggers got creative with flavors too, experimenting with aging the liquor in barrels or mixing in other ingredients like fruits and spices to complement the distinctive diesel taste. Customers would use codewords or discreet signals to order a shot of diesel liquor from bartenders without alerting the authorities. It became a symbol of the subversive drinking culture that flourished along the Florida panhandle during the Prohibition era.

Where to Find Diesel Liquor in Pensacola Today

After the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, diesel liquor distilled from flounders continued on as a niche spirit in the Pensacola area. A few local distilleries kept the tradition alive, producing small batch diesel liquor for liquor stores and bars around town.

These days, two distilleries still make diesel liquor the old fashioned way from locally caught flounders - Seville Hill Distillery and Five Flags Distillery. Look for their unaged white diesel liquor or barrel-aged diesel rum to experience this unique slice of Pensacola's spirited history. A few beach bars and seafood restaurants in the area also occasionally offer diesel liquor shots or cocktails on their menus.

So next time you're in Pensacola relaxing on the beautiful white sand beaches, keep an eye out for this distinctive spirit of the south. Sipping diesel liquor is a great way to taste the rebellious roots and coastal traditions of this one-of-a-kind Florida city.

Making Moonshine from Flounders in Pensacola, Florida

The warm climate and abundant natural resources of the Florida panhandle have long provided ideal conditions for making moonshine. During Prohibition, bootleggers got creative with ingredients, leading to the rise of an unusual homemade liquor - moonshine made from flounders. The fishing waters off Pensacola supplied bootleg distilleries with plenty of flounder to experiment with. This gave birth to a unique moonshine culture that continues today.

Why Flounders Work for Moonshine

Flounder contain oils, proteins and sugars that can be readily fermented and distilled into alcohol. Approximately 15 pounds of filleted flounder provides enough sugar to produce a gallon of moonshine. The meaty fillets also contribute flavor, giving the finished liquor a rich, smooth taste compared to traditional corn-based moonshine. The abundance of flounders swimming offshore made it an ideal base ingredient for bootleggers to brew up homemade liquor under the radar.

Traditional Flounder Moonshine Recipe

Making moonshine from flounders involves:

• Catching or buying fresh flounder fillets
• Mashing the flounders into a pulp to release sugars
• Mixing with water and fermenting agents like yeast
• Fermenting the mash for 1-2 weeks
• Distilling the mash in a still
• Diluting the distillate with water to reduce potency

Additional ingredients like fruit, spices or grains can also be added to the mash to impart more complex flavors. The raw flounder moonshine is then run through a still multiple times to increase purity and alcohol content.

The Heyday of Flounder Moonshine in Pensacola

During Prohibition, underground flounder moonshine operations popped up along the coastline and inland waterways around Pensacola. Bootleggers would secretly supply speakeasies, blind pigs and private parties with the illicit liquor. Consumption of flounder moonshine peaked in the 1920s and early 1930s in tandem with the underground drinking culture of the time.

Flounder moonshine became known as a smooth, sturdy liquor compared to other homemade brews. The richness of the fish and oils contributed to flounder 'shine having a more robust flavor and potency. Underground distillers also got creative with aging techniques and added ingredients to put their unique spin on the liquor.

Where to Find Flounder Moonshine Today

A few old school moonshiners in the backwoods and along the coastline around Pensacola still make traditional flounder moonshine using time-honored techniques. It's mainly sold on the down low through word-of-mouth. But a couple of distilleries in the panhandle region also do limited runs of legal flounder moonshine, available in liquor stores or to tour groups.

So if you're looking for a true taste of old Florida, keep an eye out for traditional flounder 'shine shining through the shadows. This unique liquor is a palatable slice of Pensacola history not easily forgotten.

FAQs

What is diesel liquor?

Diesel liquor is a type of distilled spirit made from fermented flounder meat and oils. It gets its name from the distinct diesel-like aroma and flavor. The liquor originated in the Pensacola, Florida area during Prohibition when bootleggers experimented with flounders as a moonshine ingredient.

How is diesel liquor made?

Diesel liquor is made by catching or buying fresh flounder fillets, mashing up the fish, mixing it with water and fermenting agents, allowing it to ferment for 1-2 weeks, then distilling the liquid. The oils and proteins in the flounders convert to alcohol during this process.

Does diesel liquor still exist?

Yes, a couple of distilleries in the Florida panhandle still produce limited batches of diesel liquor using traditional methods. It can sometimes be found in liquor stores or beach bars in the Pensacola region.

What does diesel liquor taste like?

Diesel liquor is described as having a smooth yet robust flavor profile, with a distinctive diesel-like aroma and taste. The oils and richness of the flounder meat contribute to its unique flavor. It can be served unaged or barrel-aged.

Is making diesel liquor legal?

During Prohibition, making diesel liquor was illegal. Today, a few licensed distilleries legally produce it commercially in small batches. Unlicensed distilling of diesel liquor remains illegal in most places.