Farmer’s Moonshine: The Oddly Good Secret of Whey Lemonade

If you’ve ever found yourself knee-deep in goat chores with a bucket of leftover whey and wondered, "What now?" — you’re not alone. Around here, we like to get creative. And that’s how Farmer’s Moonshine was born.

No, it’s not the kind of moonshine that'll get you sideways with the law. But it is a slightly suspicious-looking, delightfully refreshing concoction made from whey, honey, and lemon. That’s it. No fizz, no frills. Just old-fashioned farm ingenuity in a glass.

So What Is Whey Lemonade?

Whey is the liquid gold left behind after making cheese or straining yogurt. Most folks feed it to pigs, pour it on the compost, or offer it to the garden. But one hot day, with lemon on the counter and honey in the pantry, someone (probably hot, tired, and overly optimistic) poured it all together and took a sip.

It was... good. Oddly good.

Not in a “serve this at a wedding” kind of way. More like a “this will either cure me or kill me” kind of way. Tangy, a little sweet, and oddly hydrating. Somewhere between Gatorade and a medieval tonic. Around here, we just started calling it Farmer’s Moonshine. It’s got that mysterious edge—like something your great-grandpa would drink after wrangling chickens and before fixing a fence post with baling twine.

The Secret's in the Culture

Now here’s the real kicker: our whey comes from making cultured feta — which means it’s loaded with probiotics. Because we use a live culture to make our cheese (like a good mesophilic blend), all those beneficial bacteria that help ferment the milk end up in the whey. So, when we pour that whey into lemonade, we’re not just hydrating — we’re giving our guts a little love too.

Unlike whey from hard cheeses that’s been cooked to high temps, feta whey keeps those friendly microbes alive and well. Think of it as lemonade that loves you back — cool, tangy, and a little bit therapeutic.

Why Drink It?

• Hydration: Whey is full of natural electrolytes.

• Probiotics: Thanks to our cultured feta process, you’re sipping living goodness.

• Protein: There’s still a little left in that golden liquid.

• Sustainability: Nothing goes to waste on the farm.

• Conversation Starter: “Would you like a glass of Farmer’s Moonshine?” is a surefire way to make people curious... or concerned.

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But Let’s Be Honest...

We still kinda shy away from drinking it. Not because it tastes bad, but because... well, it’s whey. Drinking something that usually goes to the pigs takes a certain mindset. You gotta be a little scrappy, a little curious, and maybe a little dehydrated.

But once you push past the first sip and the slight “what am I doing?” moment — it just works. Ice cold on a summer day? Chef’s kiss. It’s lemonade with a side of grit.