1868 The complete Practical Distiller

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SPECIAL DISTILLATIONS.

Apprehension of inconvenience resulting from the state of the wine. It is evident that nothing but some considerations de- pending on the fitness of the workmen could now prevent the distiller from making use of improved apparatus, which always requires more intelligence and more care than that which is less complicated. There is no doubt, though, but that in all cases in which the spirits are to be drawn off at a high strength, or to be corrected by rectification, the distiller would find an advantage in being at the expense of employing intel- ligent workmen to conduct the process of a better machine. The economy then in combustibles and in labour ac- quired by such machine would amply indemnify the manu- facturer for the higher price occasioned by the employment of more careful and intelligent workmen, particularly if the distillery is of some extent. In other cases, where proof goods are only made, where the wine operated upon is rich, and where taste and fla- vour are not to be corrected by rectification, in such cases it might be possible that the distiller would not find the same advantage in making use of improved apparatus, particularly in establishments so small as not to admit of the system of continuity; then a simple condensing apparatus would be sufficient : besides, these discussions belong more immediately to the distiller. The manufac- turer having once determined upon the choice of the ap- paratus he means to use, he has only to combine his operations, so as to give to his produce all the qualities re- quisite for consumption, and to regulate his way of work- ing according to the state of the wine he operates upon.