1946 The Roving Bartender by Bill Kelly

WHISKEY

The U.S. Pharmacopoeia (June 1,'07) describes whis key thus:"An alcoholic liquid obtained by the distillation of the fermented mash of grain, either corn, rye, wheat or barley. An amber colored liquid having a distinct odor and taste and a slightly acid reaction." Before the pure food law went into effect, the public didn't know what they were drinking and the retailer didn't know what he was selling. Now everyone that can read knows and they have to take it and like it. Why should 20% whiskey with 80% some kind of alcohol be allowed to take the name whiskey? In the courts—the U.S. Circuit Court for Southern district of Ohio in re Union Distilling Co. et al vs. Beterman et al, held that a mixture of real whiskey with neutral spirits may cease to be a whiskey and that neutral spirits alone is not whiskey. So how can it be blended whiskey? Whiskey is made to be aged and it takes on certain properties in the process that it cannot get from alcohol no matter what else is added. Get a rectifiers license and you can do anything. Straight Bourbon must have 51% or more corn in its mash.Straight Rye must have 51% or more rye in its mash. Blended whiskey is a blerid of straight whiskies, rye or bourbon or both. Spirit whiskey is a mixture of not less than 5% by volume of whiskey and the rest so-called neutral spirits. Whiskey— a blend —20% or more of straight whiskey at 100 proof and neutral spirits if such is not less than 80 proof.

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