1868 The complete Practical Distiller

THE COMPLETE PRACTICAL DISTILLER.

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means a large proportion, both of oil and phlegm, will remain in the body. But if, after this operation, the spirit should be found to have too much of essential oil, it must be let down with fair water, and gently distilled ; by this it may be brought to any degree of purity. The redundant oil may, however, be separated from proof spirit, &c. by the method already proposed, especially if it be previously nitrated through paper, thick flannel, sand, stone, &c. placing at the bottom of each some cotton-wool, for ab- sorbing the oil that escapes the filter. But the slowness of this operation has caused many distillers to substitute caustic alkalies, which only destroy the natural flavour of the spirit. In fact, almost every distiller pretends to have some secret nostrum for rectifying his spirits; however, they are all reducible to three, namely : by fixed alkaline salts, by acid spirits mixed with alkaline salts, and by saline bodies and flavouring additions. Some distillers use quicklime in rectifying their malt spirit, which cleanses it considerably ; but if chalk, calcined and well-purified animal bones, were substituted for quicklime, the spirit would have a less alkaline or nitrous flavour, and conse- quently the flavouring ingredients might be added to it with more success than by the other methods. Neutral salts and soluble tartar might also be used ; but fine dry sugar seems best adapted for the purpose of rectifying these spirits, as it readily unites with the essential oil^ detains, and fixes it, without imparting any urinous, alka- line, or other nauseous flavour to the spirits.