Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 29.djvu/91

Rh Therefore, if you want a pure article, purchase from a distiller or first-class, reliable dealer; and, by the term first class, I do not mean the man who has the largest and most attractive place of business, and the most capital invested, but the man who is known for his integrity and truthfulness of character. Insist that the spirits must be at least twelve months old, and also be willing to pay a fair price for them. There is no more exception to the rule in the liquor business than in any other, that, if you want something of value, you muse expect to pay value for it.

At some distilleries, the spirits pass through a process of filtering between the worm and cistern-room, which extracts the impure foreign matter that is unavoidably forced up from the still with the vapor of spirits. When this purifying process is skillfully and carefully done, there is no absolute necessity for the further manipulation or rectification of the spirits, and the only element then required to make the spirits fit for medicinal purposes is time, and the longer the time the better. If kept in wooden packages the spirits will improve and acquire a slight color by age. Coloring-matter is not allowed by the Government to be put in the spirits when this filtering process is done at the distillery.

Alcoholic liquors should not be offered for sale until they have been filtered or properly rectified, either during the process of manufacture, or after they have been withdrawn from the distillery bonded warehouse. The best distillers never let their goods go on the market until they have themselves put the whisky through a process of rectification, or refining; and woe be to the man who dares to change its character in the original package bearing their brand, if they find sufficient evidence against him!

Rye-whisky is made from rye and malt, without corn, but experts say that it requires much longer time to mature, and become ripe and smooth, than does Bourbon whisky, which is made from corn, rye, and malt. Gin is made from the same materials and in the same manner as whisky, with one addition: juniper-berries are boiled in the last distillation, imparting their peculiar flavor.

There are two objections to straight (unmixed) American gin: First, it is usually sold when new, because the dealer can buy it cheaper and make a larger margin upon it than he can on the old article. Second, straight American gin is not filtered and relieved of foreign and impure matters, but is sold with them in, obnoxious as they are, depending upon the juniper flavor to conceal their presence.

Rum is made from molasses, diluted with water, and a ferment added; after fermentation it is distilled in the same manner as whisky and gin.

Brandy is made from apples, grapes, peaches, and other fruits, generally from the expressed juice, but occasionally from the pomace or crushed fruit after fermentation. Fruits possess by nature an