The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-12-20
IULE LIQUOR
COSTLIER and
NOT SO GOOD
8ootIeggerS are Reported
Extremely Busy by Those
who Know
GRAIN ALCOHOL SCARCE
Brewery in Cellar One
Cause of Reduced
Demand Here.


to quaf the health of good old Saint
Nicholas or drink to happy New
Year in malt or spirituouS beverages
will do so as usual this year, but
The general quality of liquor is
not as high as last year.
The price is a little higher.
This is the consensus on this
years Indianapolis holiday liquor
situation, of those who know.
Every out-of-j Jail bootlegger who
ever bootlegged is hard at work this
Christmas, say the insiders"
Activity is Revived
There has been revival of &C.
tivity, temporarily stopped by Uncle
Sans dry agents this summer. in
the Chicago district and there is
some manufacturing in the Indiana
mine districts.
Sugar alcohol is the principal
product of the Chicago makers. Cut
half and half, ready for the
stomach, it costs rs cents to SIPS
half pint here.
The original white mule, from
raisin mash and sugar alcohol, is
made in the Indiana sections.
Whisky, of the alleged real bonded
variety, can be bought this year, but
is still more expensive than in thu
past. The retail price is IS, Sc and
81 pint, and even at that price
much of it is said to be "cut stuff -
recapped. The south, instead of as
usual the Canadian border, is the
principal source.
An inferior whisky, known as
red" which really is disguised
grain alcohol, sells for 81 or SIS q
quart. Red" is made by mixing
distilled water and alcohol and add
ing Bourbon extract or by laying"
mixed alcohol and water in charred
barrels in a high temperature.
Grain Is Scarce
The scarcity of real grain alcohol
the real base of most of the liquor
drunk by all but the most elite, is
one Of the causes of the lowering
in quality of Indianapolis booze this
year, according to the wise ones.
The principal cause of the slump
in the booze market, it is said, is
the increased cellar manufacture.
Many a peaceful citizen who ordi-
narily bought a quart or two at
Christmas time is beating the high
prices this year by making his Owl!
wine and beer.
Some wine will be sold by the
bootleggers this year, at from $l2j
to So quart, but there will be no
large variety offered as in some
coast sections.
Liquor will be plentiful, but
prices higher, over the country, ac-
cording to a United Press survey.
Wine Lists in New York
New York bootleggers have regu-
lar liquor cards this year, although
many times you purchase a bottle
of chiati off the list and find it
to be merely the same as any other
wine.
Champagne in New York ranges
from So to $11 a quart or about $110
a case for the so-called 1919 vint-
age. Scotch ranges from "a for
King George w to So for Black and
White. Many claim they can't tell
the difference between the two. Rye
whisky sells from 81 to So a pint.
Most wines may be had for
around 81 a quart.
San Francisco quotes Gordon gin
available at $3.50 a bottle; rye
whisky at 81 a pint; bourbon at 81
pint; Scotch at $3.50 a bottle
bicardi at $3.50 a bottle; imported
port and sherry at SO a bottle;
moonshine 81 to $12 gallon; claret
and table wines at 81 to So a quart.
Stewards from some boats offer
most of the imported liquors. The
rye, gin, and synthetic bourbon
quality are questionable.
AK Raid Sends Up Price
In Chicago, whisky, almost al
ways of the same make but gen.
orally Of different labels, sells at
SO quart or SIS a pint. Gin is 81
a quart, some in good looking bot
ties.
In Kansas City, where the ak
raiding and women agents are re-
ported, corn whisky is quoted at 81
pint, and for aged corn-anything
more than four weeks-a price OF
$3.50 a pint is charged. Bourbon
is SIS a pint and Scotch from Sc to
SO a quart. Alcohol is $12 a gal
lon and no gin is sold to speak of
for every one has learned the art
of making gin.
Detroit, just across the river from
Ontario, offers Johnny Walker
Black Label at $3.50 a quart; good