The following recipes are excerpted verbatim from "The Art of Blending and Compounding Liquors and Wines", by Joseph Fleischman, 1885, a rectifier's and blender's guide to producing liquors that would be sold to the consumer as rye or bourbon whiskey. The principal ingredient in the lower grade whiskies was neutral grain spirits, a tasteless alcohol. For explanations of the other ingredients, see the notes at the end of the rye whiskey recipes on the next page.
FACTIOUS WHISKEY
The different grades of whiskeys here given commence with No. 1, the lowest, and increasing in quality with their numbers.
GRADE No. 1.
The lowest grade of whiskey in the market is generally composed of the following ingredients
| Spirits, | 32 |
gallons |
|
| Water, | 16 | gallons | |
| Sugar Coloring, | 4 | ounces | |
| Beading Oil, | 1 | ounce |
The Sugar Coloring, or Caramel, is harmless and can be obtained from any druggist. This grade is about 65% proof, and costs the rectifier 75 cents per gallon. It is sold to the jobbers at 90 cents, and to the saloon proprietors for $1.50. The proof strength of this may be increased to 70º, 80°, or higher, the cost and price being in proportion.
GRADE No. 2.
This quality is generally made by adding to Grade No. 1 either the Oil of Rye, or Oil of Bourbon, making the result Rye Whiskey, or Bourbon, as the case may be. This increases the value five to ten cents on the gallon.
GRADE No. 3.
This is also a cheap article, and consists of:
| Spirits, | 45 |
gallons |
|
| Prune Juice | ½ | gallon | |
| Sugar Coloring, | 4 | ounces |
As the prune juice reduces the proof 2 to 3%, the value will not advance more than five cents per gallon. In all these grades one ounce of Beading Oil is added to the barrel. The reason for it is that, although the rectifier may sell this article at full proof, the jobber may add water, which would otherwise destroy the effect of the Beading Oil. This is important, as these low grades are sold by appearance and without any particular reference to quality.
GRADE No. 4.
| Spirits, | 45 |
gallons |
|
| Prune Juice, | ½ | gallon | |
| New England Rum, | ½ | gallon | |
| Coloring, | 4 | ounces | |
| Beading Oil, | 1 | ounce | |
| This grade will cost $1.25 per gallon. | |||
GRADE No. 5.
| Spirits, | 45 |
gallons |
|
| Prune Juice, | ½ | gallon | |
| St. John's Bread Extr., | ½ | gallon | |
| New England Rum, | ½ | gallon | |
| Coloring, | 4 | ounces | |
| Syrup or Glycerine, | 8 | ounces | |
| Beading Oil, | 1 | ounce |
This will cost $1.28 per gallon.
Glycerine is often used, but it is not advisable to do so. It imports a velvety smoothness at first, more, so, perhaps, than syrup, but it soon turns bitter.
BLENDING BOURBON WHISKEYS.
GRADE No. 6.
| Spirits, | 40 |
gallons |
|
| Mattingly Whiskey, | 5 | gallons | |
| Peach Juice, | ½ | gallon | |
| Coloring, | 4 | ounces |
This grade, and those that follow, are based upon more or less genuine whiskey, and the judicious blending of the different brands.
GRADE No. 7.
| Spirits, | 30 |
gallons |
|
| Mattingly Whiskey, | 5 | gallons | |
| Atterton Whiskey, | 5 | gallons | |
| Peach Juice, | ½ | gallon | |
| Coloring, | 4 | ounces |
This blend will cost $1.38 per gallon.
GRADE No. 8.
| Spirits, | 30 |
gallons |
|
| McBrayer Whiskey, | 5 | gallons | |
| Monarch Whiskey, | 5 | gallons | |
| Peach Juice, | ½ | gallon | |
| Coloring, | 4 | ounces |
This blend of brands will cost $1.43 per gallon. The increase in the price being entirely due to the superior brands employed.
GRADE No. 9
| Spirits, | 20 |
gallons |
|
| Monarch Whiskey, | 10 | gallons | |
| Mattingly Whiskey, | 10 | gallons | |
| Peach Juice, | ½ | gallon | |
| Coloring, | 4 | ounces |
The increased proportion of fine whiskeys will raise the cost of this grade to $1.50 per gallon.
GRADE No. 10.
| Spirits, | 10 |
gallons |
|
| McBrayer Whiskey, | 10 | gallons | |
| Monarch Whiskey, | 10 | gallons | |
| Mattingly Whiskey, | 10 | gallons | |
| Coloring, | 2 | ounces |
This will cost $1.65 per gallon.
GRADE No. 11
| McBrayer Whiskey, | 20 | gallons | |
| Mattingly Whiskey, | 20 | gallons | |
| Monticello (Rye), | 5 | gallons | |
| Prune Juice, | ½ | gallon |
This is considered the finest of all grades, as it contains no spirits, but an excellent blend of genuine whiskeys. It will cost $1.90 per gallon
The first five of the foregoing grades are simply spirits, and will remain so; it therefore unnecessary to attempt to improve them by age; but all the other grades should, after mixing, be tiered away in barrels on the highest floor, and allowed to remain three months before using.