The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-05-02
HOW WHIsKEY IS MADE.
A Thirty-Year-Old "Velvet" Article
Turned Out in a Minute.

|
NUNS committee appointed to investi-
gate the Whiskey Trust. The report
reads:
The witness appeared before the COM
mlttee with two demijohns, one con
tanning pure alcohol and the other
spirits, and number of bottles con
tanning essential oils, essences, etc.,
with which he proposed to make some
experiments, and explained the same
informally.
The Chairman: You may now pro
ceed with your experiments.
The Witness: The basis here, this
white product, is what is known as
''spirits" in the trade. With the use
of these essential oils and essences now
before you any kind of imitation liquor
can be produced at almost a moments
notice. Ny first experiments will be
with Jamaica rum. put a drop of
Jamaica rum essence into this white
spirits, few drops of coloring matter
and some sugar sirup Try of it and
smell of it handing same to commit
| tee Does it smell like rum and taste
like 1t? If they want to make it cheaper,
they reduce it with water. I will re.
duce it with water and you will notice
that the bead has disappeared from it.
l will reproduce the bead by the use of
bead oil. 1 put one drop in, and here
is the result shaking and holding same
up before the committee.
Now, using rye whiskey essence in
stead of Jamaica rum essence, I will
flavor this spirits. will now put some
prune juice into it to tone it. I will
put some raisin oil in it to age it, and
| will now commence to color it. This
first exhibit holding same up before
the committed is about the color of
one-year old whiskey that has been
properly bonded. will now color it
so it will initiate a two year old Whis-
key. This is about the three year old
now Exhibiting same] I will now
give this the color of velvet whiskey,"
which is sold as high as 81 a gallon lex
hibiting samel The present price of
spirits, to day, think, is 81, 80 a gallon
The utilization of any of these essential
oils and essences and coloring matter
to make the transfer does not exceed
a cost of II cents gallon. am pre-
pared to make limitations of any of
these liquors at any time with this
spirits basis.
The Chairman Name the different
kinds.
The Witness. ALI the different whis-
kies, Scotch and Irish whiskies, the
foreign gins and ruins and brandies,
after dinner cordials and liquors.
These materials as you have them ex-
hibited before you of essential oils and
essences are part and parcel of the
stock in trade of every man in the
United States of America who has got
arectifying licenseas a wholesale liquor
dealer.
Question. In the production of the
imitation Jamaica rum you used some
coloring matter; do you know of what
constituents that coloring matter is
composed?
Answer. is supposed to be burnt
sugar.
Q.-You used bead oil; do you
know of what that is composed?
Al am not chemist, but I am
told by authorities, which will be sub
mitted here, it is made of sulphuric
acid, the oil of almond and either sweet
oil or cotton seed oil, I am not sure
which.
ON the production of your "vel-
vet whiskey, you poured in some aging
compound; do you know of what that
is composed9
A.-One of them ismade from raisins
and the other from prunes.
Q.-In the production Of either Of
these limitations did you use any COM
pound of which fusel oil is a con-
stituent?
An the rye whiskey favoring
fusel oil is the basis.
els fusel oil a poisonous substance
or not2
Al believe it is so considered.
Q.-From your knowledge of the
business do these limitations of liquors
find any large sale in the United States
A.-They are very generally and ex
tensively in use throughout our entire
country in every hamlet and village,
in all the branches of trade, the whole
sale liquor dealer, the grocer having
liquor dealers license, and retail drug
gists.
The Chairman.-In what proportion,
in your Judgment