The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-04
CENTURY OLD BRANDY.
1t Was the MeIIOwest Old stun in
Chicago.

From the Liquor Trades Review.
Ibid I ever drink any real Old brandy?'
Slowly. the speaker repeated the question,
and, as Enough recalling The pleasantest Of
dreams. he said: "Did I? Why. my boy,
ten or twenty years before anyone ever
suspected that there was some day going
10 be such a town as Chicago, two years,
oven. before Fort Dearborn was estab-
lished, when the Indians had 10 confine
their scaling 10 frogs and muskrats II
they did any scalping in this neighbor-
hood, a bottle OF brandy was put up in
France by one Balfour. Mr.. Baifour
would probably have been incredulous If
anyone gifted with foresight had told him
where that bottle would be when the year
1898 rolled around. The bottle was opened
in Chicago that year. and I was present,
thank the Lord
1T was In 1901 that the brandy was
poured into the bottle and corked down.
That day whooping redskins with mecca
sins on their feet and feathers In their
hair caught cells in the marsh where this
town now stands and rowed out on the
placid bosom of the Chicago river and
caught FISH. for fish then inhabited the
stream Al The Indians passed away, but
TO make the long Trip 10 what is now Chi
cago had a better hold on life and the
cork continued to remain in the neck of
the bottle
Year after year and decade after de-
cade the bottle, in company with few
other bottles filed al the same time, re-
posed in the dust and cobwebs of Mr.. Pal
four's cellar. War after war shook the
word, but failed to crack the bottle in
The cellar Many people came into The.
world and left ii again, and even Mr.. Bal
four passed away, but the brandy stayed
where it was, even though it changed
owners.
FINALLY one day after long years had
passed, a workman, with a big box in one
hand and a Ratchet In the other, came
down into the dark cellar. Another man
with a candle in his hand lighted the way,
and the two began rummaging around
among the dusty cobwebbed bottles. The
bottles listened and heard the men say
something about a box of liquor that was
going to be sent across the sea to the far
away land in America. Each bottle hoped
that Il would be fortunate enough to get
a berth in that box. The bottle Of brandy
was one Of the lucky ones. II was dragged
from its resting place the cobwebs were
pulled off and The dust removed.
with many other bottles, it was nailed
up in the box and sent across the ocean.
Before very long the bottle of Mr. Bal
four's best brandy landed in the cellar of
Wnslow, Lanier & Co. of New York Aft
er the brand had remained with the bank
er for some time il was sent by him as
present to II. V. Bemis, here in Chicago.
Tne banker knew he could not send me
brandy 10 anyone who would appreciate
such q rare treasure as much as his friend,
MI Bemis who Is considered the greatest
wine expert in Chicago and one Of the
greatest in the country.
'The brandy remained undisturbed In the
cellars of Mr.. Bemis until one day asked
Mr. Benis who had the Oldest bottle Of
liquor in Chicago I'm show it to you
was the reply. Down in the cellar box
containing a number of old relics in the
liquor line was opened. In one corner
was the old back bottle. containing the
brandy, and on the neck was the date
1901
I'm three years that grand old stuff
win be a century Old, said Mr.. Bemss, as
he tenderly pulled out the bottle and blew
the 1ust-off the cork. Come around in
three years and wen open it-no, there is
no time Ike the present; well open II
now corkscrew was procured and in
serted in the ancient and time-honored
cork Mr.. Bernis began to pun, but cen
tennial corks come hard. AS the car
dinaT pulled and thought of the great
treasure in his hands tears came into his
eyes but whether the tears were caused
by his exertions or emotions inspired by
the age of the brandy was a question ditt-
cult OF solution. Finally, after long re-
slstance, the cork threw up the sponge,
and with a sOod-by kiss let go its hold of
the bottle neck.
at didn't come out with a light, super
fetal, 'bottled-last-year' pop. Instead Of
such a cheap modern pop as that, 1t gave
deep, dignified and melodious 'gug,' that
would have impressed even a bother of
California claret. With tears still in his
eyes, Mr. Bemis poured out couple Of
glasses of the precious liquor. The liquid
was bright, clear amber in color, and
there was a sparkle to it like that possess
ed by rich win. Little time was wasted
in panegyrics and encomiums. The brandy
was tasted, slowly, for liquor of such vim
tage is not to be dashed off like dose or
medicine. The delicacy and richness of
it's age had not been useless. The liquor
had not spent its life in vain, for it at
tanned its purpose of becoming mellow by
the slow process of waiting. Did l ever
drink any old brandy? Go away, young
man; l want to remember that bottle
Bemis opened"