The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-12-15

An Indianapolis druggist T6NedIeU
today to The Times he has been ap-
preached by two men representing
themselves as being from Chicago
and offering to supply him with a
whisky" he could retail at ST.
pint.
The whisky, they said, according
to the informant, would bear the
label of a time honored whisky
known since before prohibition for
its smoothness and mellow flavor.
The whisky offered him, accord
ing to the informant, would have to
be purchased by him in large guam
titles, but he could have afforded
had he bought any, to include the
state stamp tax of IS cents in the
81 pint retail price.
Jasper Corn AS Base
Local racketeers also have been
busy, according to authentic infor-
nation given The Times, in attempt
ing to cash in on public demand
in the present era of high whisky
prices.
Two Indianapolis men,. it was
learned, have been buying up large
quantities of the medium and SUI
perior grade corn whisky which all
during prohibition has been manu-
featured, in Jasper and adjacent
Indiana counties.
They plan, it is reported, to use
the Jasper corn type whiskey as a
base for whisky to be cut with
grain alcohol and water and dis
pensed through wildcat drug store
channels.
Jasper county, Indiana, and ad-
iacent counties long have been rec
ognized, according to former pro-
hibition officials, as one of the few
localities in the United States where
comparatively harmless and pal
atable grade of corn whisky is
manufactured.
Jasper corn" the term loosely
applied to whisky manufactured in
all of the southern Indiana coun-
ties in Jasper county's vicinity, sold
on a widely f1uctuating price scale
before prohibition repeal.
Blends Own Drinks
The fluctuations varied in SYM
pathy with the amount of heat"
applied by dry agents and the dilig-
ence with which Indianapolis bound
automobile loads were Knocked
off"
However, it usually could be
bought at its source for from $3.50
to $3.50 a gallon.
Although analyses shows that
some Indianapolis drug stores are
selling so-called "whiskey blend"
that is harmless though nothing
but alcohol and favored water, at
least one druggist here is blending
with real whiskey.
An investigator for The Times
went to this drug store and pur-
chased pint of bonded whisky for
1925, a pint of pure grain alcohol
for $3.50 and IS cents worth of
blend drops and distilled water.
He emerged with three pints of
palatable but thin-bodied whisky,
and the remainder of the drops with
which to do some more blending.
Drinkers who complain of high
whisky prices in Indianapolis point
in substantiation of their plant to
liquor prices advertised in Chicago
newspapers.
Chicago Prices Cited
Belle of Nelson" advertised as
100 proof, bottled in bond and made
in 1917, is quoted at $3.50 a pint.
Belle Of Nelson" blend is quoted in
the same advertisement at 99c a pint
or SITS quart.
A Belle of Nelson" blend is re-
tailed in Indianapolis at $1.97 pint.
Bonded Mellwood whisky. adver-
tised as made in 1917, is quoted at
$279 a pint.
Other Chicago quotations include:
Dixie Bell gin, SO cents a pint;
RAMS Head gin, SO cents a fifth of
gallon; Golden Wedding whisky,
a blend, S2.49 quart; Riesling wine,
SO cents a fifth of gallon.