IMPROVED PREPARED LIQUORS' OR AGENTS FOR ADMIXING WITH ALCOHOLIC AND VINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND ALSO APPLI- CABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF AERATED WATERS AND OTHER BEVERAGES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Collingridge, of No. 85, Gracechurch Street, in
the City of London, and René François Lecerf, of Gravesend, in the County of
Kent, for the Invention of "IMPROVED PREPARED LIQUORS' OR AGENTS
FOR ADMIXING WITH ALCOHOLIC AND VINOUS SUBSTANCES, AND ALSO APPLI-
CABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF AERATED WATERS AND OTHER BEVERAGES."
Sealed the 8th October 1878, and dated the 18th April 1878.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Collingridge and
René François Lecerf at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
18th April 1878.
"
AUGUSTUS COLLINGRIDGE, of No. 85, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London,
and RENÉ FRANÇOIS LECERF, of Gravesend, in the County of Kent. IMPROVED
PREPARED LIQUORS' OR AGENTS FOR ADMIXING WITH ALCOHOLIC AND VINOUS
SUBSTANCES, AND ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF AERATED WATERS
AND OTHER BEVERAGES."
Hitherto it has been the usual practice to employ (under the trade name of
liquor") as an agent for the reduction of and admixture with alcoholic and vinous
substances, water which has previously been submitted to the process of distilla-
tion, and very frequently in commercial practice to that of simple boiling over a
naked fire with the view of freeing it from its native salts and other impurities it
may happen to contain, either in chemical combination or mechanical suspension.
Whereas our improved preparations for effecting the like objects consist in the
employment, in lieu of water only, of distillates of infusions or decoctions of the
leaves of the Chinese or other Asiatic tea shrub (as well as of other matters) pre-
pared as follows, preferentially by us. To this end we charge the interior of the
body of the still or alembic with a clear aqueous infusion or decoction of tea leaves
(which preferably has been previously digested in an hermetically closed vessel for
Prine &71

page_text: about six hours at a moderate heat, say about 120° Fahrenheit, but whatever the
heat or the period employed the same should be sufficient thoroughly to extract the
theine from the leaf) and carefully distilling the same at the lowest temperature
capable of evolving the necessary, vaporisation we draw off until the condensed
product dropping into the reciever ceases to emit any aromatic perfume when we
bring the operation to a close.
If properly carried out with ordinary skill and attention the product will be a
colourless fluid possessing a rich aroma, in combination with the nitrogenous
elements of theine, and free from the presence of tannic acid in any perceptible
degree, as well as from the bitter of the fibrous portions of the leaves and stalks.
In certain cases where it may be desirable to obtain increased astringency we
charge the still with the macerated leaves in conjunction with the infusion or
decoction, having been previously digested, as before stated, and we draw off as
much of the condensed product as is practically consistent with the ordinary rules of
distillation. In other cases an admixture of alcohol may be included in the charge;
when this is done we prefer to digest the tea leaves with the alcohol for about
twenty-four hours in a hermetically closed vessel, employing in quantity from about
ten to twenty per cent. in fluid bulk of the intended volume of water, reckoning
the alcohol in strength in no case as under proof, but preferably from six to ten
degrees over proof, and after such digestion, whether warm or cold, we add the
necessary complement of water to the tincture, and distil the bulk with or without
the leaves, continuing to draw off until the product ceases to exhibit perfect
limpidity.
As applied to the manufacture of aerated waters and other like beverages our
Invention embraces the employment of any of the distillates, whether simple or
compound, before or hereafter set forth and described in the preparation of aerated
waters in lieu of water, where water has hitherto been employed, and also in the
application of a clear infusion or decoction of tea leaves in lieu of water, simply to
the manufacture of certain kinds of aerated waters compounded with acids and
sweetening matters generally.
We also employ as admixtures, or beverages, distillates of infusions or decoctions
of the torrified and ground coffee berry; and of fresh gathered or dessicated hops
digested and treated substantially as above described, with or without the addition
of alcohol thereto.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Augustus Collingridge and René François Lecerf in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th October 1878.
AUGUSTUS COLLINGRIDGE, of No. 85, Gracechurch Street, in the City of London,
and RENÉ FRANÇOIS LECERF, of Gravesend, in the County of Kent. " IMPROVED
PREPARED LIQUORS OR AGENTS FOR ADMIXING WITH ALCOHOLIC AND VINOUS
SUBSTANCES, AND ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF AERATED WATERS
AND OTHER BEVERAGES."
Whereas hitherto it has been the usual practice to employ (under the trade or
technical name of "liquor,") as an agent for the reduction of and admixture with
alcoholic and vinous substances, water which has previously been submitted to the
process of distillation, and very frequently in commercial practice to that of simple
filtration or boiling over a naked fire, only with the view of freeing it from its
native salts and other impurities it may happen to contain either in chemical com-
bination or mechanical suspension.
Now our improved preparations for the reduction of alcoholes and wines consist
in the employment in lieu of water only, whether distilled, or boiled, or filtered, of
distillates of infusions or decoctions or tinctures of the leaves of the Chinese or other
Asiatic tea shrub, as well as of other appropriate vegetable matters yielding pro-
ducts upon distillation of infusions, decoctions or tinctures prepared from them, sub-
stantially as herein-after stated, of a nontoxicant and potable character, such as is
yielded from the distillation of infusions, decoctions, or tinctures of the torrefied and
ground coffee berry, fresh gathered, or dessicated hops, the leaves of the shrub
known as the maté, and generally such other matters of the vegetable class which
being treated as described prior to distillation will yield limpid distillates of an
aromatic character calculated to serve for the mixing purposes specified, or for human
consumption, prepared and treated as follows, preferentially by us. To this end we'
charge the interior of the body of the still or alembic with either a clear aqueous
infusion or decoction of tea leaves or other matters, as the case may be (which pre-
ferably has been previously digested in an hermetically closed vessel for about six
hours at a moderate heat, say about 120° Fahrenheit (but whatever the degree
of heat or the period employed the process should be of a nature to insure
thorough extraction of the theine element or aromatic properties from the leaf and
carefully distilling the charge at the lowest temperature capable of evolving the
necessary vaporization we continue to draw off into the receiver until the con-
densed product ceases to emit any aromatic perfume when we bring the operation
to a close.
If properly carried out with ordinary skill and attention the product will be a
bright, colorless fluid possessing a rich aroma, in combination with the nitroge-
nous elements of theine, and free from the presence of tannic acid (which may be
tested comparatively with the ordinary infusions or decoctions of tea by placing.
a drop of each on the blade of a table knife) in any perceptible degree, as well.
from the bitter emanations of the fibrous portions of the leaves and stalks.
In certain cases where it may be desirable to obtain increased astringency in
the distillate, we charge the still with the macerated leaves, in conjunction with
the infusion or decoction, the same having been previously submitted to the process
of digestion, as above described, and we draw off as much of the condensed
product as is practically consistent with the ordinary distillation of vegetable
matter when it is desired that the product should exhibit no signs of opacity. In
other cases, and especially where the liquid is required to be kept in considerable
quantities for any length of time in vessels more or less exposed to the influence of
the external atmosphere, an admixture of alcoholic may be advantageously included

page_text: in the charge. When this is done we prefer to digest the tea leaves or other bases
with the alcohol for not less than twenty-four hours in a hermetically closed vessel em-
ploying in quantity from about ten to twenty per cent. in fluid bulk of the volume
of water intended to be added, reckoning the spirit in point of alcoholic force, in no
.case as under proof, but preferably from 6 to 10° over proof, and after such digestion
(which may be warm or cold, but if warm, should preferably be at a temperature
between 90° and 100° Fahrenheit) we add the necessary complement of water to
the tincture, and distil the bulk with or without the leaves (according to the degree
of astringency it may be desirable to obtain) continuing to draw off until the pro-
duct either ceases to exhibit perfect limpidity, or until all the alcohol has been
extracted from the charge, whichever event first happens, when the operation should
immediately cease.
As applied to the manufacture of artificial aërated waters and of other like
beverages our Invention embraces the employment of any of the distillates, whether
simple or compound, of the vegetable substances before or herein-after mentioned,
or appropriate for the object, in the preparation of such artificial aërated waters
in general in lieu of water, only has hitherto been usually employed in their
composition, and also extends to the substitution of a clear infusion or decoc-
tion of tea leaves or other appropriate vegetable matters in lieu of water, simply to
the manufacture of certain special kinds of artificial aërated waters compounded
with acid and sweetening matters generally.
The clarification of such infusion or decoction should be effected by careful filtering
(through vegetable charcoal preferentially) in order to avoid the formation of a
film-like deposit in the bottle apt to arise where the other precaution has been
neglected.
Having described the nature of our Invention, and the modes of carrying it into
effect, we desire it to be understood that we do not claim as new or original the
addition to or admixture with, of tea, whether in leaf or in infusion or decoction, to
alcoholic and vinous substances, such applications being already well known to the
wine and spirit trade; what we claim and desire to have secured to us is,—
First. The application of the products arising from the distillation of tea and of
other vegetable matters appropriate for the purpose herein-before set forth and
described (such products differing essentially in color and in chemical composition,
and attributes from mere infusions, or decoctions, or tinctures however obtained, to
the admixture with and the reduction of alcoholic and vinous substances in lieu of
water purely and simply, whether in a raw state or however treated, with a view
to its purification.
Secondly. The employment of such distillates of tea and other appropriate vege-
table matters herein-before described, as substitutes for water only in the fabrication
and composition of artificial aërated drinks and other beverages.
Thirdly. The employment of simple or clarified decoctions or infusions of tea
leaves or other appropriate vegetable matters in lieu of water, where water only has
hitherto been usually employed in the fabrication and composition of a certain
special class of aërated drinks usually compounded with acids and sweetening
matters.
And, finally. We do not limit our claim or bind ourselves to the employment of
distillates of decoctions or infusions or tinctures of tea, and other appropriate vege-
table matters prepared in precise accordance with the formula above given as the
most efficacious known to us; but we claim the application for admixing drinking
or reduction purposes as substitutes for water as applied to wines and spirits and
other beverages, the use of distillates of tea and other appropriate vegetable
matters, or of tinctures of the same, notwithstanding such distillates may have been

page_text: obtained by means of differing in detail, but substantially tending to produce the like
results.
In witness whereof, we, the said Augustus Collingridge and René François
Lecerf, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighteenth day of
October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
eight
A. COLLINGRIDGE. (LS.)
RENÉ F. LECERF. (L.S.)