The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-04-18

properties. This fact is aptly illustrat
ed by a question considered at mucl
length in the papers referred to, an
also submitted to me as above namely
| What is whisky?
"A chemist or a distiller might an
| swer this question altogether Different.
from the ordinary purchaser of whisk.
| Tor his own consumption; but the pur
| chaser's view of the matter is materia
| to attain the primary purpose of thu
Pure Food law; and I think it may b,
safely said what he means by whisky
when buying it is q distilled spirit, fl
| for use as q beverage, and having the
particular favor which human expert
ence has classified as that of whisky
Undoubtedly the f1avors of different
kinds of spirits, all known as whisky
differ considerably, and it may be thai
the general impression of their similar.
ity is due, in some measure, to imagin-
alton or imperfect memory: neyerthe-
less. a distinct and definite idea is sug.
gested to the mind by the words whisky
flavor. This idea is an essential factor
in ascertaining the identity of spirit
claimed to be whisky, and, in my opin-
ion, it is the decisive factor in deter
mining the relative weight of the claims
of two or more kinds of spirit to the
same
with this preliminary explanation. !
proceed to state what / understand to
be the questions as to which my opinion
is desired. In substance, these are:
First, under what circumstances
should distilled spirit be labeled or
branded whisky without any qualify
ing words?
Second, under what circumstances
should liquid be marked a blend of
whiskies,' or blended whisky or
blended whiskies?'
Third, under what circumstances
should a liquid be marked as a COM
pound of whisky or compound whis-
kies,' and what word or words. IL any,
must be added to such title to make the
same appropriate under The law?
Fourth, under what circumstances, IL
at all, could distilled spirit. with adj
ditions of coloring and flavoring SUBJ
stances, be termed limitation whisky?'"
The Attorney-General then answers
his own questions:
According to the true intent Of the
pure Good law. a mixture of whisky
with natural spirit must be deemed a
compound and not blend, although
the spirit may be ditiIlate ffora the
same substance used to furnish the
whisky, and that such a mixture stands
on the same footing as a mixture of
whisky and brandy or whisky and
rum
Acknowledgement Bonaparte is, not
usually humorous, but he has suffered
from SO much cant about whisky from
the selfish and greedy 'rectifiers and
L little fun at them in suggestions as to
how they shall label the different .varie-
lies Of their pernicious stuff He says.
n conclusion:
The following seem to me appro-
pirate specimen brands or labels for,
irst, straight whisky; second, mix
.ure of two or more straight whiskfes:
bird, mixture of straight whisky and
ethyl alcohol, and fourth. ethyl alcohol
favored and colored SO as to taste,
'mell and look like whisky:
81. Semper Idem Whisky: A pure,
straight whisky, mellowed by age.
80. L Pluribus Unum Whisky: A !
blend of pure, straight WHISTLES, with
Ill the merits Of each.
"3. Modern Improved Whisky: A
Of pure grain distillates, mel
ow, and free from harmful impurities.
-. Something Better than Whisky: |
IN imitation under the Pure Food law, |
rec from fusel oil and other Impurities. |
'In the third specimen it is assumed |
hat both the whisky and the alcohol |
re distilled from grain"
The President approved the Attorney-l
Generals decision, and issued the fol-
owing order:
straight whisky will be labeled as
UGH
"a mixture of two or more straight
vlaiskies will be labeled blended whis- |,
~ or WHISTLES.
"A mixture of straight whisky and
thyl alcohol, provided that there is a
efficient amount of straight whisky to
make it genuinely a MIXTURE will be
abeled as compound of or compounded
nth pure grain distillate. tn"'''
Limitation whisky will be labeled as
uch." T-'~' |
The consequences OF this order will
e far reaching. OF course it can ap-f
ly only to those liquors which are sent
rom one State to another. It's first eff
ect will be upon those dealers who are
dvertising extensively yarious brands
Z whisky in magazines and other gem
rally circulated periodicals. None of
hese liquors can now be sent to buyers
/ other States, since none of them prac-
cally is what its label purports, Even
nose dealers who actually sell the old
ashioned whisky extend" it greatly byt
now prohibited.
"Rectifers and distiliers' can con-
nue. to sell imitation whisky inside
leir own States until the States fol-
w the example of the Government,