Pruno, aka “Prison wine," is made from the pulp of apples and/or oranges, fruit juice, sugar, hot water and bread. Usually, pruno is made in large plastic bags or any container available that can be sealed and hidden. The concoction ferments after a few days and can eventually lead to an alcohol content between 2 to 14%, depending on the amount of sugar added. Potatoes can also be used instead of fruit as the pulp base, but in 2012, there was an outbreak of botulism due to potato-based pruno consumption in Utah and Arizona prisons. A similar outbreak occurred in two California prisons in 2004 and 2005. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) does not recommend using potatoes to make pruno.
If you want to experience the joys of pruno for yourself,
here is a recipe with decidedly more glamorous pictures than what you’ll see in prison.
