The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-22
Wine Made of Water and Drugs
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.


II say, john
Yes. sir
This whisky's doctored, John" He looked
at John with reproachful eyes. He was not
much bigger than his cane; but when the i'm
maculate John, in the deferental manner native
to barkeepers of the higher class the world
over, began to protest, he whipped out pocket
hook big enough to make up for his physical
deficiencies.
bet you $50 it is he said
well, sir, can't go you that high, you know,
but I'll tell you what I'll do. l will bet you a
flyer that can mix you up any drink you may
call for, out of pure water and drugs and when
set my mixture down beside the genuine arti-
Gle you will not be able to tell one from the
other, by sight, taste or smell. We don't do 1t
here in professional way, but it can be done.
That whisky before you is pure article as
told you, sir, and l make the offer merely TO
prove to you that nothing is easier than for a
man to be deceived in his liquor.
Done. happen TO have drop Of cognac In
my pocket flask here. Duplicate it with doc
tored spirits, and you win"
He placed his pocket-fiask on the bar, while
John selected a couple of four ounce bottles
from little collection in the lower drawer of
the sdeboard. The bottles were labeled:
Cognac Brandy Essence-To Dbl. spirits add
3la OF. of this flavor, at. syrup and 4 OF. col
Cognac Brandy Coloring-To bbl spirits add
OF. of this coloring. qt syrup and 313 o.
essence.
Now then, said John, the first thing is to
put just the right quantity of sugar syrup into
this bar glass, to follow it with a few drops of
the essence and shade more of the coloring;
then fill the glass about one-sixth with raw aco-
hol and after that, brim it with water. Wig
orolis shaking mixes the ingredients there
you are. 1t only remains to make this glass so
we may know 1t again. to pour your genuine
cognac into the glass duplicate, then shuttle
them, and nothing but chemical analysis
could tell which was which, il one glass was not
marked"
The glass containing the manufactured brandy
was slightly scratched with a diamond. the two
were carried TO the far end of the bar and
there "shuffled, as John had said, and the issue
bore him out. and made him the winner of the
bet. Both the glasses were apparently filed
from the same flask, and looked and tasted
alike. The mixture of raw alcohol and water
left no heat on the palate, was just as smooth,
and carried as delicate bouquet as the inn
ported product of French grapes.
"As told you before, gents, said the victori-
Gus John, I'VE don't do 1t here in a professional
way, and keep these bottles of drugs merely TO
show our customers that it can be done, and
that in the matter of drinks they are completely
at the mercy of the liquor dealer. We want
them TO know this so that they will patronize
house which is honest and does not countenance
such a business and gives its secrets away when
ever II has a chance. Here is q stack of secret
circulars and price lists which have come TO us
in the way of business. None but liquor dealers
can get them. They are like Masonic or odd
Fellows rituals-not meant for general circula-
ton; but they prove in plain black and white
that the manufacture of doctored drinks is a
common business"