Observations On The Advantages Of Making Strong And Good Whiskey With Stalement &c

The distiller who makes whiskey for a market under the government of
inspection laws, too weak, sustains a loss of a cent for each degree it
may be under proof ... and the disadvantages are increased in proportion
to the extent of land carriage. If a distance of seventy miles, the
price of carriage per gallon will be about six cents, paying the same
price for weak or strong ... not only the disadvantage of paying for the
carriage of feints or water, but the loss in the casks, which tho' small
apparently at first view, yet if nicely attended to, will amount in the
course of the year to a sum of moment to every distiller or proprietor.
To convey my ideas, or render a more compleat exposition of my
impressions as to the actual loss on one waggon load (predicated on a
distance of seventy miles land carriage) of first proof whiskey, and
that nine degrees under proof. I give the following statement.

300 gallons good first proof
whiskey at 50 cents, $ 150
haling at six cents, 18

$ 132 00

300 gallons whiskey nine
degrees under proof at 41
cents, $ 123
haling 18

$ 105 00

difference $ 27 00

This difference of twenty-seven dollars in favor of the distiller, who
sends first proof whiskey, is not the only advantage, but he saves in
barrels or casks, what will contain fifty four gallons, nearly two
barrels; which together with the time saved, or gained in running good
whiskey only, of filling and measuring it out, loading, &c. will leave
an advantage of I presume, three dollars in each load. Or to verify
more satisfactorily, and I hope my readers will not think me too prolix,
as economy cannot be too much attended to in this business, I add a
statement predicated on a year's work, and on the foregoing principles:

The distiller of weak whiskey, in twelve months,
or one year, distils at the rate of 100 gallons
per week, or say in the year, he prepares for a market
at the above distance, 5000 gallons,
which ought to command $ 2,500

But he sustains a loss or deduction of 9 cents, 450

Then the first loss may safely be computed at $ 450

150 empty barrels necessary to contain 5000 gallons,
at 33-1/3 gallons to the barrel, estimating the barrel
at 7s and 6d, is $ 150

This quantity of whiskey, when reduced to proof, is
4,100 gals. which would have occupied only 123 barrels, 123

-------
27

Then the second loss may be estimated at $ 27

He ought to have made this quantity of 4100
gallons in nine months and three weeks, but we will say
10 months, sustaining a loss of two months in the year.

3d item of loss. Hire of distiller for 2 months at $12 24 00

4th do. Rent of distillery do. at L15 per annum. 6 66

5th do. One sixth of the wood consumed, (at the rate of
100 cords per annum,) 16 cords, 20 00

6th do. One sixth of the Malt, do. say 90 bushels, 90 00

7th do. Is the wear and tear of stills, vessels, &c.
12 34
-------
$ 630

Showing hereby a total annual loss to the careless distiller, of six
hundred and thirty dollars, and a weekly loss of twelve dollars and
three cents in the whiskey of nine degrees below proof--our ninth part
of which is seventy dollars, which is the sum of loss sustained on each
degree in this quantity of whiskey.

The foregoing I flatter myself will not only show the necessity of care,
cleanliness, industry and judgment, in the business of distilling; a
business professed to be known, by almost every body--but in reality
quite a science, and so abstruse as to be but too imperfectly
understood; and moreover, the value of time, so inestimable in itself,
the economy of which is so rarely attended to.

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