The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-12

California, Virginia and Kentucky the Lead
ers in Its Manufacture.

According to the familiar declaration OF the
Juvenile COPY book. The essential difference
between whiskey and brandy is that whisKcy
is made from grain and brandy is made from
fruit" The origin Of brandy. or eau-de-vie. az
it is called in France. is German. being de-
rived from branntwcin. or burnt wine. and
though the American brandy. for which a con-
siderable homo market has been obtained is
distilled according to the French formula. the
German designation Of the product is adhered
10 in preference to the French. During the As
cal year beginning on July l. 1897. and ending
on July l. 1893. the amount of brandy pro-
duced in the United States aggregated nearly
100000 gallons. OF which California produced
2,3S7,S q gallons. Virginia 100. 10 gallons. and
Kentucky GG.174 gallons.
There are seven varieties OF fruits which
enter into the making Of American brandy.
some States giving n preference to one and
some States to another. as local conditions die
tate. These seven fruits are apples. peaches.
grapes. pears. Gpricots. berries and prures.
Tho California brandy is made almost exclus-
ivoly OF grape juice. The Virginia brandy is
made almost exclusively Of apple Juice. though
in manufacture differing essentially. from the
In Maryland peach brandy Is the chief item OF
product in the limo OF brandy making prunes
in California. berries In Georgia and pears in
Florida. tho pear brandy OF the latter State hav-
ing, II 10 said, some commercial advantages
which other States have been unable TO dis
cover. The extent TO which the business has
grown in California may BIO shown by the fol-
lowing official figures: Deposited IN each year
9stt, 200 732 gallons: 1888, 952.35s gallons;
Tho shortage OF the California grape crop
two years ago resulted In keeping down the
manufacture of brandy for consumption. Most
OF that distilled was used for fortifying sweet
wines in that State, Afterward tho remaining
Quantities OF suitable grapes were small, Last
year q large amount OF grapes ordinarily used
ms table grapes was converted into brandy. be-
cause tho price for table grapes was low. As u
consequence Of those conditions, the marketa-
bic supply of California brandy varies from
year 70 year, but In quality II is generally found
TO hold its own, even against foreign brandies.
These come chiefly from France, and. prior
to ,lSO2, amounted on the average to
100000, gallons imported in casks and
70 5000 gallons impoFtea in bottles;
Prandics declined rapidly. and in. 1896 It was
down TO less than 5000 gallons in wood and
less than 10000 In glass, Since then. however.
there has been a steady Increase, despite the
increasing demand for California brandies.
freely bought in preference to those imported.
on account OF their greater. purity and on. ac-
count Of the more reasonable price Mt which
they are sold. With brandy. as with other
spirits, however. the rule Of moderation is the
wholesome II is in small amounts and however
careful it, manufacture, is injurious to the cX-
traVagant patron. Under the Wilson tariff
there was. a duty OF Sl.SO per proof gallon on
imported brandy. The present tariff Is $2.25
Per gallon.