The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-02-23
TEABERRY JACK.
A New jersey Drink That Enlivens tho
HOg-kfl1ing Time.

New Jersey Drink That EnllVenS tnS
Hog-killing Time.
Just at this season of the year the in
habitants of Burlington county, n. j.,
are winding up their big hog and tea
berry season, and it is the most joyous
of the year. Next to the prize hog,
':teaberry jack" fills a long-felt want,
saws an eastern exchange. 1t is a bev-
erage indigenous to this part Of the
state, and rarely, if ever, found else
where. It is combination of native
ingredients, all OF which are raised on
the soil where the jack is made. The
formula is not furnished with each
bottle, but, judged from its effects, it
must have proof as high as brandy
and be near relative to the alcohol of
commerce. ''Teaberry jack is made
out of apple jack, which is kept in
secluded spot until it becomes brown
ish amber and has the odor Of age.
In the distillation and afterward the
apple jack is mixed with crushed tea
berries, sometimes called wintergreen
plums, or checkerberries. They have
the same flavor as v'intergreen chew
ing gum. The odor is a combination OF
apple blossoms and mountain tea
berries, which is SO fascinating that
the amount of alcohol in the drink is
harsh taste while the teaberry jack is
trickling down the throat; there is
none of the rasping which whisky often
causes when it is unmixed with water.
Water is not needed with teaberry jack
to make it palatablc; it needs no dilu-
ton. The natives drink it without
water, and it's strength is indicated to
the eye or the taste only in the size Of
the glass, which is the ordinary glass
of country barroom-smaller in size.
The teaberry drinker is expected to fill
his glass, close both eyes and gulp it
down.
The season for teaberry jack is the
hog-killing time in the winter, when
all the outdoor work is done on the
farm and the hogs are fat. Old tea
berry is valued most, but it is hard to
keep it year after year-its taste is so
good, and the inhabitants require so
much of it during the winter.
! Teaberry jack affects a man cumu-
latively. 1t begins with his toes, which,
if he has had eight or ten drinks, begin
to be lively and somewhat intoxicated.
He feels as if the toes belong to some
other human being, and he is some
what surprised at the exhilarated con-
dition in which he notices they are.
The teaberry jack gives him the mental
power to disassociate himself from his
toes, and to be a spectator of the way
in which the effects of the tipple start
from his toes to his feet, then up to mis-
knees. This is the danger signal, aud
should not be disregarded. The native
Jerseyman is accustomed to the effects
of this drink, but to visitor they are
fascinating and insidious. The effect,
as it gradually extends upward, is
cumulative and sudden. The last thing
to be affected is the brain, which re-
mains entirely sober after the throat
and tongue have started On a mad
career of inebriety. The tongue may
be running on at a great rate, while
the brain, in sorry sobriety, stands off
! in mental attitude by itself, wondering
what is the matter with the tongue
that it is carrying on and making all
kinds of speeches. The legs may be
dancing, while the rest of the body is
sober and amused at the antics of, the
intoxicated legs.