A Method or Process of Improving Alcoholic Liquors
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
[Communicated from abroad by THOMAS ANDREW BRYAN, Chemist, and CHARLES
HUMPHREY BOONE, Gentleman, both of 210 and 212, North Liberty Street,
Baltimore City, State of Maryland, one of the United States of America.]
A Method or Process of Improving Alcoholic Liquors,
I, JOHN THOMAS KNOWLES, Trade Marks Agent, of the Firm of D. Young & Co.,
of 11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the treatment of newly distilled alcoholic liquors,
such as whisky, brandy, wine, cordials, and like alcoholic beverages containing
mixtures of homologous alcohols.
The object of this invention is to improve the taste or flavor and the physio-
logical characteristics of whisky and other alcoholic liquors.
This invention consists in the addition of a proper proportion of purified methyl
alcohol to the said distilled alcoholic liquor, and subjecting the liquor to the
influence of actinic rays.
It has been discovered that by the addition, in proper proportion, of methyl
alcohol to alcoholic liquors, such as whisky, wine and the like, and by subjecting
the same to the influence of sufficiently powerful actinic rays, the percentage of
the constituent fusil oil or other oils of the higher series of alcohol is diminished
or dissipated and the liquor improved in taste, in flavor, and in its physiological
characteristics. Liquor thus treated has a milder and richer taste or flavor; its
intoxicating effect is materially reduced, and it is rendered more suitable as
medicine.
In practicing this invention, the proportion of fusil oil in the liquor to be
improved is first ascertained by methods well known to those skilled in the art
of rectifying, and then the methyl alcohol is added in the proportion of three
molecules of methyl to one molecule of amyl alcohol; or by weight, ninety-six
parts of methyl to eighty-eight parts of amyl alcohol, and the liquor with the
added methyl alcohol is then exposed to the influence of powerful actinic rays,
as for instance the actinic rays of electric light or sun light.
In carrying this invention into practice, it has been found advantageous to
employ apparatus comprising a glass building, somewhat resembling an ordinary
greenhouse, preferably square, with the glass roof sloping upward to the apex.
In this glass structure, directly under the sloping sides of the glass roof, shelves
are arranged in steps to support the glass bottles or vessels containing the liquor.
The said shelves are constructed of such material as will readily permit the free
passage of the rays of light in all directions. The horizontal portions of the
shelves are preferably plates of glass, and the risers, or vertical parts of open wire
work or the like. The shelves are preferably arranged to follow the general
contour of the glass roof, and in the centre an electric lamp is provided, suitably
connected by conductors with an electric generator, whereby a sufficiently power-
ful light for the purpose in hand, is obtained. It is possible to employ acetylene

page_text: gas for the purpose of producing the sufficiently powerful light, but an electric
lamp, in which electric energy is generated is preferable, in that the waves of
radiant energy may be brought to the required strength and activity.
The purpose of the glass structure is to enable sunlight to be utilized as an
auxiliary, or aid to the electric light in daytime, whereby the process of changing
the alcohol molecules is expedited.
It has been found that a sufficiently powerful light is obtained from an incan-
descent lamp of fifty candle power, when placed near or within three inches of
the bottle or vessel containing the liquor.
After the liquor has been exposed a sufficient length of time to the action of
the waves of radiant energy (the period extending from one to six weeks, de-
pending largely on the power of the light and the number of hours it is employed
during each day) the liquor is filtered to remove the precipitated impurities.
It is desirable and important to preserve the liquor from undue heating during
the practice of this invention; otherwise the methyl alcohol which has a low
boiling point might be evaporated. According to this invention the liquor is
not perceptibly heated; it is not re-distilled; it is practically not effected by
undue heat from the light, and this process may be carried into effect in a freez-
ing temperature.
The addition to distilled whisky, brandy, wine, cordials, and like alcoholic
beverages of a proper proportion of methyl alcohol, and the exposure of the liquor
with the added methyl alcohol to sufficiently powerful actinic rays as herein
described, affects the liquor and improves its taste, flavor and physiological
characteristics, making it milder and richer in taste or flavor, materially re-
ducing its intoxicating characteristics, and rendering it more suitable for use
as a medicine.
73
T
0211
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
A Method or Process of Improving Alcoholic Liquors.
I, JOHN THOMAS KNOWLES, Trade Marks Agent, of the Firm of 1). Young & Co.,
of 11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to the treatment of newly distilled alcoholic liquors,
such as whisky, brandy, wine, cordials, and like alcoholic beverages containing
mixtures of homologous alcohols.
The object of this invention is to improve the taste or flavour and the physio-
logical characteristics of whisky and other alcoholic liquors.
This invention consists in the addition of a proper proportion of purified methyl
alcohol to the said distilled alcoholic liquor, and subjecting the liquor to the
influence of actinic rays.
It has been discovered that by the addition, in proper proportion, of methyl
alcohol to alcoholic liquors, such as whisky, wine, and the like, and by subjecting
the same to the influence of sufficiently powerful actinic rays, as for instance the
actinic rays of sunlight or electric light, the percentage of the constituent fusil
oil or other oils of the higher series of alcohol is diminished or dissipated and
the liquor improved in taste, in flavor, and in its physiological characteristics.

page_text: Liquor thus treated has a milder and richer taste or flavour; its intoxicating effect
is materially reduced, and it is rendered more suitable as medicine.
In order to enable those skilled in the art to practice my invention, I have
described the same in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing which
shows a vertical sectional view of the apparatus I prefer to employ.
apex
The
This apparatus comprising a glass building, somewhat resembling an ordinary
greenhouse, preferably square, with the glass roof 2, sloping upward to the 3.
In this glass structure, directly under the sloping sides of the glass roof, shelves
are arranged in steps to support the glass bottles or vessels 4 containing the
liquor to be treated. The said shelves are constructed of such material as will
readily permit the free passage of the rays of light in all directions.
horizontal portions 5 of the shelves are preferably plates of glass, and the risers,
or vertical parts of open wire work or the like. The shelves are preferably
arranged to follow the general contour of the glass roof, and in the center an
electric lamp 7 is provided, suitably connected by conductors 8 and 9 with an
electric generator, whereby a sufficiently powerful light for the purpose in hand
is obtained. It is possible to employ acetylene gas for the purpose of producing
the sufficiently powerful light, but an electric lamp, in which electric energy is
generated is preferable, in that the waves of radiant energy may be brought to
the required strength and activity.
The purpose of the glass structure is to enable sunlight to be utilised as an
auxiliary, or aid, to the electric light in daytime, whereby the process of changing
the alcohol molecules is expedited.
It has been found that a sufficiently powerful light is obtained from an incan-
descent lamp of fifty candle power, when placed near or within three inches of
the bottle or vessel containing the liquor.
The proportion of fusil oil in the liquor to be improved is first ascertained
by methods well known to those skilled in the art of rectifying, and then the
methyl alcohol is added in the proportion of three molecules of methyl to one
molecule of amyl alcohol; or by weight ninety-six parts of methyl to eighty-
eight parts of amyl alcohol, and the liquor with the added methyl alcohol is then
exposed to the influence of powerful actinic rays.
After the liquor has been exposed a sufficient length of time to the action of
the waves of radiant energy (the period extending from one to six weeks, de-
pending largely on the power of the light and the number of hou it is employed
during each day) the liquor is filtered to remove the precipitated impurities.
It is desirable and important to preserve the liquor from undue heating during
the practice of this invention; otherwise the methyl alcohol which has a low
boiling point might be evaporated. According to this invention the liquor is
not perceptibly heated; it is not re-distilled; it is practically not effected by
undue heat from the light, and this process may be carried into effect in a freez-
ing temperature.
The addition to distilled whisky, brandy, wine, cordials, and like alcoholic
beverages of a proper proportion of methyl alcohol, and the exposure of the liquor
with the added methyl alcohol to sufficiently powerful actinic rays as herein
described, affects the liquor and improves its taste, flavor and physiological
characteristics, making it milder and richer in taste or flavor, materially re-
ducing its intoxicating characteristics, and rendering it more suitable for use
as a medicine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The method or process herein described of improving alcoholic liquor, which
consists in adding methyl alcohol to the liquor, and subsequently subjecting the
latter to the influence of light, substantially as set forth.
2. The method or process herein described of improving alcoholic liquor, which

page_text: consists in adding methyl alcohol to the liquor, and subsequently subjecting the
latter to the influence of waves of radiant energy developed by an electric lamp,
substantially as set forth.
3. The method or process herein described of improving alcoholic liquor, which
consists in adding purified methyl alcohol to the liquor, placing the liquor in a
vessel through which rays of light can freely pass, and subjecting the vessel and
the liquor therein contained, to the influence of the actinic rays of light, sub-
stantially as set forth.
4. The method or process herein described of improving alcoholic liquor, which
consists in adding methyl alcohol to the liquor and subjecting the same to the
influence of the actinic rays of light, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 92nd day of June 1800
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.