It may seem a stretch to create upscale cocktails from moonshine, but think about it: We make cocktails from scotch and bourbon all the time. Why not corn likker? To make simple syrup, bring equal amounts of granulated sugar and water to a boil and heat until the sugar dissolves. Add a lemon wedge to prevent crystallization. Store airtight in the fridge for up to three months.

A word of caution: Even just one of these cocktails will likely put you over the legal limit, so if you're not trying these recipes at home, plan accordingly with a designated driver or a cab.

Hyosub Shin/Staff (ENLARGE)

From left: Moonshine Mule, Perfect Shine Manhattan, Old-Fashioned Moonshine Sour and Moonshine in the Garden were created by Eric Simpkins of Trois.

Hyosub Shin/Staff (ENLARGE)

Lara Creasy of Shaun's has dressed up moonshine in the Dirty South, a lemonade; Snake Oil, which incorporates espresso; and Blood Brother, a mix of alcohol and juices.

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Perfect Shine Manhattan
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

From Eric Simpkins, Trois

1 1/2 ounces Georgia Moon moonshine
3/4 ounce sweet vermouth
1/2 ounce dry vermouth
1 dash Angostura bitters
Cracked ice

Stir the moonshine, vermouths and bitters over cracked ice to chill, and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a lemon twist, if desired.

Per serving: 150 calories (no calories from fat), trace protein, 3 grams carbohydrates, no fiber, no fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 5 milligrams sodium.

Moonshine Mule
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

From Eric Simpkins, Trois

1 1/2 ounces Georgia Moon moonshine
1 ounce ginger beer
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 ounce simple syrup
Ice
Candied ginger or fresh mint, optional

Shake the moonshine, ginger beer, lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a Collins glass over ice. Garnish with candied ginger and mint, if desired.

Per serving: 147 calories (no calories from fat), trace protein, 11 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, no fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 3 milligrams sodium.

The Dirty South ('a moonshine and clover honey lemonade')
4 servings

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

This recipe is from Lara Creasy of Shaun's. Creasy says: "Steeping fruit in moonshine is a traditional way to take the edge off, and this lemonade, if made the day before and left in the icebox, is actually a pretty delicious way to drink moonshine. The clover honey complements the sweet flavor of the moonshine better than any other sweetener I tried."

1/2 cup clover honey
1 cup hot water
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (or 3/4 cup for a tarter lemonade)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup moonshine
1 lemon, sliced
1/2 cup cold water
Ice
Fresh mint, optional

In a pitcher, mix the honey and hot water and stir to dissolve. Allow to cool. Add lemon juice, salt, moonshine and lemon slices. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight. Add cold water. Fill pitcher with ice before serving. Pour into tall tumblers or water glasses filled with ice. Garnish with fresh mint, if desired.

Per serving: 267 calories (no calories from fat), trace protein, 39 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 70 milligrams sodium.

The Corn's Hi
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

From Chris Dean and Vajra Stratigos, South City Kitchen/Fifth Group

1 1/4 ounces moonshine product
Fresh lemon juice
1/2 ounce pineapple juice
1 teaspoon simple syrup
2 ounces Mountain Dew
Ice

Shake the moonshine, lemon and pineapple juices, simple syrup and Mountain Dew in a cocktail shaker with ice until very cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Per serving: 122 calories (no calories from fat), trace protein, 11 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 7 milligrams sodium.

The G.E.D.
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

From Chris Dean and Vajra Stratigos, South City Kitchen/Fifth Group

Ice
1 1/2 ounces moonshine product
2 ounces lemonade
1/4 ounce grenadine
Club soda
Sprite

Fill a Mason (Ball) canning jar (12 to 14 ounces) with ice and add the moonshine, lemonade and grenadine. Fill the remainder of the jar with soda and Sprite. Garnish with a sugared lemon wedge, if desired.

Per serving: 107 calories (no calories from fat), no protein, 19 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, no fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 16 milligrams sodium.

Git'er Dunn!
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

Bartender Chris Dean of South City Kitchen and Fifth Group's beverage manager Vajra Stratigos party on with these punchlike libations geared to the college set. South City Kitchen Midtown will offer the Git'er Dunn for $9 and the Corn's Hi for $8 Thursday through Wednesday.

1 1/4 ounces moonshine product
1/4 ounce Cointreau
1 ounce Sunny D
1/2 ounce Rock Star orange energy drink
Ice
Orange wedge, optional

Combine the moonshine, Cointreau, Sunny D, Rock Star and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously until very cold. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with an orange wedge, if desired.

Per serving: 123 calories (percent of calories from fat, 2), trace protein, 7 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 2 milligrams sodium.

Blood Brother
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

From Lara Creasy, Shaun's

1 ounce Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine
1 ounce reposado tequila
Squeeze of honey
Squeeze of fresh lime
1 ounce grapefruit juice
1 ounce blood orange juice
Ice
Salt, optional
Lime or blood orange slice, optional

Mix the moonshine, tequila, honey, lime, grapefruit and blood orange juices in a cocktail glass filled with ice. Toss once in a cocktail shaker to mix. Salt the rim of glass, if desired. Garnish with a lime or blood orange slice.

Per serving: 176 calories (percent of calories from fat, 2), trace protein, 11 grams carbohydrates, trace fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 1 milligram sodium.

Snake Oil
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

Mixologist Lara Creasy of Shaun's spent a lot of time playing with flavors, coming up with just the right combinations. Her clever cocktails Snake Oil and Blood Brother (right) will be offered at Shaun's today through Wednesday for $10 each. She prefers the real thing, or Piedmont brands as the next best thing.

1 ounce Patron XO Cafe
1 ounce Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine (available in liquor stores)
1/2 ounce Grand Marnier
1 double shot espresso
Ice
Splash of water
Orange slice, optional

Combine the Patron, moonshine, Grand Marnier and espresso in a cocktail shaker with ice and the splash of water. Shake well. Pour all, including ice, into a tall tumbler glass. The top should be nice and frothy. Garnish with an orange slice.

Per serving: 215 calories (no calories from fat), trace protein, 19 grams carbohydrates, no fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 3 milligrams sodium.

Moonshine in the Garden
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

From Eric Simpkins, Trois

3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
6 to 10 mint leaves
1 slice cucumber
2 thin slices Fuji apple
1 1/2 ounces Georgia Moon moonshine
1 ounce simple syrup
Ice
Mint sprig and slice of cucumber, optional

Muddle the lime, mint, cucumber and apple in a cocktail shaker. Add the moonshine, simple syrup and ice. Shake to chill and strain into an old-fashioned glass with fresh ice. Garnish with a mint sprig and a slice of cucumber, if desired.

Per serving: 143 calories (percent of calories from fat, 1), trace protein, 12 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram fiber, trace fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 3 milligrams sodium.

Old-fashioned Moonshine Sour
1 serving

Hands on: 5 minutes
Total time: 5 minutes

Mixologist Eric Simpkins at Trois didn't find moonshine all that challenging, though he liked the real thing better than store-bought. You can try two of his creations, the Old-fashioned Moonshine Sour and Moonshine in the Garden, at Trois today through Wednesday for $8 and $10, respectively.

1 1/2 ounces Georgia Moon moonshine
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 ounce simple syrup
1 egg white (or 1 to 2 tablespoons pasteurized egg to avoid slight risk of salmonella)
Ice
Angostura bitters

Combine the moonshine, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white in cocktail shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously to chill. Strain into a sour glass. Garnish with a small dash of Angostura bitters swirled on top.

Per serving: 153 calories (no calories from fat), 4 grams protein, 11 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams fiber, no fat (no saturated), no cholesterol, 56 milligrams sodium.