The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-09-08
me AGE Of WHISKY,

Years Do Not Count UnlcAs IL Ii
Kept IN the WOssas
In the smoking compartment OF a
car on the Congressional Limited a
few days ago . gentleman handed out
his flask, with the remark that he
had some of the Oldest and finest
whisky that anybody on the train
ever tasted.
He said that he had unexpectedly
discovered under a pile of rubbish in
the cellar Of his house on his T1hnta-
ton in Virginia a demijohn of old
whisky that had probably been lying
there for over twenty years. He con-
sidered it perfect.
ut is no better than the contents OF
this flask" said IL whisky drummer,
producing his bottle, "and this wllis-
ky is not over five years old. But it
was drawn in my presence yesterday
from the barrel in which it had been
originally poured when it left the coil
i'll the distillery. Whisky is only im-
proved by remaining in the wood and
by the slow process Of evaporation
which goes on while it is in the bar
rel. II it is in glass it may remain
there for forty years and the original
quantity and flavor are the same as
when bottled.
The sentiment you have expressed
is n popular superstition, but errone-
Gus. Wine is improved with age in
bottles, but not whisky. A barrel of
whisky will eyaporate from a third to
a quarter in five years, and it is this
slow, ilnperceptible condensation
which mcllows and gives it that Pc
%culiar, rich flavor found in old whis-
ky so esteemed by the Judges of fine
liquors.
There are various processes by
which dealers age whisky, and it is
possible to take the liquor right from
the still, compound it and make it
mellow to the taste. 1t is u fraud and
q deception to do so, but it is done.
Most of the cas- goods on the market,
however, are what they are represent
ed to be. The competition is so great
between the owners of the various
high grade Whistles that the pur-
chaser usually gets what he pays for.
1T is a trade secret how WHISTLES
are aged but ! will tell you IL on
two methods by which new whisky is
made mellow and soft. When you
have held your glass to the light over
the bar you have noticed that the
liquid clings to the side of the glass in
little waves and semi-circles, like oil.
Many men judge their liquor by this
oily appearance. supposing that it is
produced by the liquor itself from lis
age. This is true, if it is really old,
mellow whisky. but the same appear
ance is manifest when a proper guam
tity of glycerine is added, and a soft,
mellow taste is impaired also. The
juice of prunes is the most used in
gredient to darken whisky, and tic
give it that heavy, rich color which
some men like. 1t ages the liquor,
too.
Some men prefer a blended wills.
ky, which is supposed to have very old
whisky mixed with new. III most
blended whistles prime juice and
%glycerine are important elements
They are not delcterious substances
and impart an agreeable taste. a
straight whisky is liquor which is UNI
blended with other brands, and is
aged entirely from standing in the
wood, if it is the pure stuff. inferior
grades of WHISTLES are doctored with
chemicals and ingredients, according
to the methods of the seller. A mn,
of disc-rnment can detect the diff.
ference in the different grades as soon
as he touches his lips to the liquid
but all men have not this faculty. and
will swallow anything from a bottle
which is placed before them on Thu
bar without n word, so long as il
burns when it goes down."