What is Whiskey?

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8191, 17 May 1906, Page 2

What is Whiskey?

lu a letter to the Feilding Star Dr Monckton says:—"At cost of some thousands of pounds a decision has at last been given in one of Ixmdon Courts as to what is and what is not whiskey; and as both sides have pretty well exhausted the talent of both chemical and legal experts the decision is likely to stand. Ah an enormous amount of technical evidence resulted, that the general public might not understand, I propose to compress the main points into plain language. There are three principal alcohols or spirits. One is ethyl, or pure spirit derived from j distilling grapes, or malted gr in, ; and is wholesome when taken in , moderation. Another is amyl, or starch spirit, obtained from potatoes, mai/.e, or any unmalted grain, i It is cheaper to inako and eminently unwholcHome. This is also called patent or silent spirit, and is largely used, either by it*cU or to olend with a small qaan-tity-of Scotch or Irish whiskey nn a cheap : substitute for tho genuine article; and its use of course may enable manufacturer* or importers to obtain an illegitimate profit at the expense of other people's health or intellect. Iho third { spirit is distilled from wood, and ia j familiarly known as methylated spirit. It was ordinarily too nauseous to drink, and so escaped paying duty, but a plan i as been devised by which it can be deprived of its smell and tai;te. and made to do duty as a still cheaper adulterant or substitute for whiskey. This also would have a very damaging effect upon the human system. Now, we will supposo a publican tD possess a high notion of integrity and fair dealing ; and within my own knowledge I could point to several such, both in the past and in the present. How, I ask, can they protect themselves or their customers They are not analytical chemists, and they have to deal out in good faith whatever tho importers supply them with, unless the Government step in and say; " A sampie of each liquo»* for consumption shall bo tested before admission into the colony." I exclaim loudly, after 50 years' medical experience, that good alcohol in moderation is a good thing. It warms the heart, and has been the saving of many a life : and that bad alcohol is the devil that teetotallers charge it with being. Let the people, therefore, for their own sake induce their representative to urge the Government to undertake such an obvious duty. The above is not merely the hypothesis of an obscure person in a small town, but it is supported by testimony of a leading health oilieial of New York, the sworn evidence of English chemical experts, and the published particulars given in Allen's fourteen guinea work on Organic Chemistry.