The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-04-03
COUNTY FAMOUS FOR
 APPLE WHISKY IS
 HAVING HARD BLOW
Orange County, New York. Has Been Manufacturing Its Famous Apple Whisky for More Than q
 Century

In Orange county, N Y, folks are pre- pairing for the days of repentance, of sackcloth and ashes, and quoting Biblical lore in bulk to justify their arguments against prohibition, says the New York Herald. For Orange county is the seat of the apple whisky industry for the l state of New York, and the mellow, gold en product that has been turned out there in great quantities for years will soon cease to diffuse friendly warmth through the anatornies of men. The dis tilling of apple whisky in Orange county is something more than an industry, it is an institution and as such enjoyed the respect of those who knew little of it's wonders and few who went so far as to oppose it's manufacture and distribu- ton while extolling its merits. For To, many of the oldest families in this sec tion of the state have been instrumental in trying to keep the supply abreast of the demand for generations, although this has never been quite possible.
 The manufacture of apple whisky, as distinguished from applejack, and apple brandy, has been uninterrupted since the days of '7S and the only change that has marked long career of sale and barter 1 resulted from conditions that affected the price and were due to taxes imposed by legislation.
 The germ of romance coursed through all apple whisky that had it's inception in Orange county; statesmen and politi- clans toasted one another in it's amber depths; all social functions have been topped off with apple whisky in the form of punches, toddies, etc. The re. | t,.-x kAtxI. 4t. riage of country gentleman's daughter Ito a neighboring squire is distinguished 1 for the voltage of the apple that flows. Horselnen around the famous Goshen track, regarded as the finest in the coun- l try of its proportions, open and close 1 their negotiations with a formal express sion of good will backed up by a polite three fingers of the best that the neigh boring stills produce And now all these traditions and cherished institutions al- lied with the industry are to be swept away. Is it necessary to remark that dire distress and terrific anger greet the un. welcome arrival of that king of icono- | clasts-prohibition?
 I It is in the Goshen section of Orange | county. with It's rich residents, retired ! New Workers, breeders of thoroughbred horses and cattle and rich farmers, that 1 the fame of apple whisky ever flourishes | Ancient stills dot the country around and | the pride of production finds form in eX- ceptionally potent blends that are brought out on rare occasions from hidden grottos and delight the festive boards of convival | hosts. This section might be described as the apple whisky zone of the state
 for practically the whole output comes from within a radius of 15 miles around
 Goshen. Distillers of the apple as il
 is briefly described in that section, never formed combines or installed modern ma l chinery to increase their output. The I industry has been personally controlled
 and directed for many years, the makers
 sold their product and delivered the out put in person.
 | The Goshen Hunt also will lose a bi|
 of it's color with the passing of this good old brand of liquor. Those gallant gen.
 tlemen who ride across the rolling farm
 lands of the county, gay in their red coats. with the hounds in hot pursuit of the fox, will have to find a differ ent strrup cup. Orange county apple has always played a prominent part in ! the merry gatherings after the hunt, and | incidentally, fin some cases before it | Horse racing days at the Goshen track i will lose much of their splendor and ! those big poker games in the Goshen hotels at night after the meets will not
 be enliyened by rare blooms of the orch ard.