1868 The complete Practical Distiller

SOxME DIRECTIONS TO THE DISTILLER.

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the fire. Special care must be taken that no manner of grease, tallow, soap, or any other such like unctuous mat- ter, get or fall into the tubs, rundlets, or cans, because they quite take oflf all manner of proof of the goods; and although the strength be very high, yet they will appa- rently fall as flat as water, and then their strength can only be ascertained by the hydrometer. Li^ghted candles, torches, paper, or other combustible matters, should never be brought near the still or any vessel where the goods are contained, which are subject to take fire upon very slight occasions. But should an accident take place, get immediately a woollen blanket or rug, drenched in water, and cast upon the flame, which will extinguish it by excluding the air. Some persons, after the still is charged, make a luting or paste, made half of Spanish whiting and the other of rye- meal, bean-meal, or wheat-flour, well mixed together, and made with water of the consistence of an ordinary paste for baking ; and having put on the still-head, work and make it pliable, and spread it upon the junctures of the body and head of the still, to keep in the goods from boiling over. Reserve a piece of the paste, lest the lut- ing should crack or break out, which is very dangerous. It is a custom among some gentlemen of the trade to put one-third or one-fourth part of proof molasses-brandy pro- portionally to what rum they dispose of, which cannot be distinguished but by an extraordinary palate, and docs not at all lessen the body or proof of the goods, but makes them something cheaper. To recover or amend any common waters, or genevas, will take such a quantity of proof or double goods of the same kind or denomina- 2