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Montucky Moonshine bar atmosphere
Tailgate

Mountain Dew Moonshine

Year-Round · Serves 1 · 2 Minutes

The iconic pairing. Neon green, ice cold, and unapologetically fun.

Bright citrus green cocktail
Tailgate Collection

Mountain Dew Moonshine

⏲ 3 min 🍴 1 serving ☀ Summer

Some pairings are legendary for a reason. Peanut butter and jelly. Biscuits and gravy. And somewhere in that pantheon of perfect duos: moonshine and Mountain Dew.

This is not a cocktail that needs a backstory or a bartender's flourish. Mountain Dew moonshine is a drink born from parking lots, tailgates, float trips, and backyard bonfires. It is the kind of thing someone hands you at a party and you immediately ask what is in it -- not because it is complex, but because it is so effortlessly good that you cannot believe it is only two ingredients.

The science is simple. Mountain Dew brings citrus sweetness and heavy carbonation. Moonshine brings clean, corn-forward heat. The lime wedge ties it all together with a hit of fresh acidity. The result is a drink that goes down dangerously smooth -- bright, fizzy, and refreshing with just enough bite to remind you this is not soda.

Mountain Dew was originally created in the 1940s as a whiskey mixer. The name itself is old Appalachian slang for moonshine. So when you pour moonshine into a glass of Dew, you are not inventing something new. You are completing a circle that started eighty years ago.

Recipe

Mountain Dew Moonshine

Prep: 2 min
Serves: 1
Season: Year-round

Ingredients

  • 2 oz moonshine
  • 6 oz Mountain Dew
  • 1 lime wedge
  • • Ice

Instructions

1

Fill a tall glass or mason jar with ice to the top.

2

Pour the moonshine over the ice.

3

Top with cold Mountain Dew and give it one gentle stir.

4

Squeeze the lime wedge over the top, drop it in, and serve.

Serve It In

A tall glass, a red cup, or a Montucky Mason Jar. No judgment. This drink meets you where you are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it matter which Mountain Dew I use? +
Original Mountain Dew is the classic choice. Code Red adds a cherry twist that works surprisingly well. Baja Blast makes a tropical variation. Zero Sugar versions work fine if you want a lighter drink. They all pair well with moonshine -- experiment and find your favorite.
Why does this combination work so well? +
Mountain Dew was literally invented as a mixer for whiskey and moonshine. Its citrus-forward sweetness and high carbonation were designed to complement the character of American corn spirits. It is not an accident that they go together -- it is the original purpose.
Can I batch this for a group? +
Yes -- scale the moonshine to 1 cup (8 oz) per 3 cups (24 oz) Mountain Dew to serve 4. Keep both ingredients cold and mix just before serving so the fizz stays strong. Add lime wedges to each glass individually.

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Serve It In

A frosted pint glass or a 24oz insulated tumbler. Cold as the Rockies, green as the mountains.

Complete the Moment

Pre-fill the Montucky Flask and grab the Drink Drank Drunk Tee. Because if you're drinking Mountain Dew and moonshine, you've already committed to the bit.