Sunshine Spirits
Sunshine Spirits
Sunshine Spirits are a unique spirit made using both raw and malted/roasted sunflower seeds. While we are not the first to partake in using this unique ingredient using primarily black oil sunflower seeds, we certainly believe that we are the first legal distillers to push it into such innovative and provocative products.
At Old Homestead Distilling Co. we put our unique spin on spirits distilled from Sunflowers. First malting them, then malting and roasting, before finally settling into the other grains and ingredients that would set them apart. The yeast, captured from the remains of the old town of Newton Stewart, and fermentation, always in used whiskey barrels. The spirit distilled on a double thumper system. The result: a rich and somewhat smokey and roasty spirit akin more to Mescal than modern whiskey or shine. Savory, round, and full of the fire of life.
From this base are produced Sunshine Spirits Schnapps, sweetened and flavored and made to be mixed with various ingredients. Nothing fancy or hoity toity about them, they blend phenomenally with other spirits, ice cream, or your favorite sodas and drinks! The only rule? They have to be flavors that would have been common in hard candies carried by Apothecaries no later than 1900! That's just one of the ways we push the envelope while preserving tradition!
White Sunshine
Cold mashed in the tradition of Moonshine. We hand malt and roast our own sunflowers to express the oil and roasty/nutty flavors. We combine these with wheat, rye, and oats, as well pure cane sugar, and ferment in wooden casks for around 7 days using a yeast we captured from what remains of the old town of Newton Stewart. We distill on our 250 gallon double thumper system which imbues a rich and oily character with a bit of smoke not dissimilar to Mescal. The resulting distillate averages 140 proof. After distillation we sugar maple charcoal filter to polish the spirit and proof down to 92 slowly over a period of weeks using water from the local water shed, this water has only had chemical and biological contaminants removed, but small amounts of local minerals remain to truly express the character of the region.
Newton Stewart
Named in tribute to one of the three towns that were destroyed to build Patoka Lake. Newton-Stewart was the site of Allen's Mill and was a thriving little town. This area of Crawford and Orange county in particular was well known for local moonshining and bootlegging and this activity increased when the government began claiming parcels of land with several local moonshiners setting up small operations on government land to make a few dollars before being forced to leave the area. We cold mash using pure cane sugar, hand malted corn, wheat, and oats alongside the yeast we gathered behind the old general store in the area. That traditional corn shine leads the way but with an unusual sweetness not often experienced in traditional sugar and grain based distillations. Made in the fashion of the Bishop, Butler, Wilson, and Barger Families of Southern Indiana. This one is for the traditionalist who wants to experience the real thing! We firmly believe in paying tribute to our past and our roots, it's the Hoosier Way.
Amburana Finished
What is Sunshine without a sun set? We took our White Sunshine and rested it in Brazilian Amburana Barrels for a few months to pull a little color, but also to imbue the flavor of this exotic wood into the spirit. The roasty, nutty, smoky flavor of sunshine is complemented with cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking spices that are off the charts! If you like complexity in your spirits this one is for you.
Butterscotch
A rich, indulgent spirit bursting with the warm, melted flavor of classic butterscotch candy. Built on the oily, unique base of the malted sunflower mash, it delivers unmistakable notes of butter and brown sugar — smooth, sweet, and deeply satisfying with a lingering caramel warmth.
Root Beer
This spirit captures the nostalgic fizz and sweetness of a classic root beer float. The bold sunflower mash base (120 proof) pairs with the familiar sarsaparilla-and-vanilla notes of old-fashioned root beer, making it perfect over ice or even over ice cream.
Cinnamon
A fiery yet sweet spirit that delivers the sharp, spicy bite of cinnamon candy — think Red Hots in a glass. The high-proof sunflower base amplifies the heat of the cinnamon, creating a warming spirit with a bold, lingering spice finish.
Lemon Drop
Bright and citrusy, this flavor channels the sweet-tart pucker of a classic lemon drop candy. The clean, high-proof sunflower spirit carries the zesty lemon flavor well, balancing sweetness and sharp citrus tang for a refreshing, candy-forward sip.
Cherry Bomb
This spirit carries the deep, dark sweetness of ripe black cherries layered with a subtle complexity that the YouTube tasters described as reminiscent of Dr. Pepper’s dark fruity depth with cherry notes blooming around it. Bold and punch, just as its “Bomb” nickname suggests.
Banana
Sweet and tropical, this flavor brings the vivid, candy-like character of banana runts or banana taffy rather than a fresh banana. The high-proof sunflower base carries the ripe banana flavor boldly, making it a fun, playful spirit with strong nostalgic candy-shop appeal.
English Toffee
A decadent, buttery spirit evoking the rich crunch of classic English toffee candy. Expect deep caramelized sugar notes layered with a buttery smoothness and a hint of toasted nuttiness — all amplified by the naturally oily, roasted sunflower mash base that makes Sunshine Spirits unique.
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