THE COMPLETE DISTILLER TEXT

to be chosen, bruised, and in that Condition suffered to remain some Days to ferment. The Juice is then to be strained off, the Quantity of Sugar and Brandy added, and the whole put into a Cask and close stopped. A Lee or Sediment will fall to the Bottom of the Cask, which Sediment will be of great Use in preserving the Ratafia. The Proportion of black Cherries must be large in this Ratafia, because the Colour, which this is greatly valued for, chiefly comes from the Juice of that Fruit. The Sugar must not be put in at once, because the Acidness of the Liquor would cause a considerable Effervescence, but by a little at a time. These Instructions being observed, a Ratafia of this Kind may be easily made: And as the Spirit is not to be mixed with it, till the Ratafia is called for, a large Quantity of it may be made at a small Expence, when the Fruits are in Perfection, which cannot be done by the common Methods. _Recipe for making mixed Ratafia._ Take of common Cherries, thoroughly ripe, four Hundred and fifty Pounds; Gooseberries, large and ripe, two Hundred and twenty-five Pounds; black Cherries ripe and large, fifty Pounds. Bruise these Fruits, and in that Condition let them continue three or four Days to ferment. Then press out the Juice, and add one fifth Part of Spirit; that is, if you have two Hundred and fifty Pints of Juice you must add to it fifty Pints of Spirit. When your Spirit and Juice are mixed put them into a Cask, and for every Pint add three Ounces of Sugar. By this means your Ratafia will be always ready to mix with Spirit. But as the Proportion of Spirit is but small, it will be necessary to taste your Ratafia at least every Month, lest it should ferment, and by that means lose both its Flavour and Colour. As soon therefore as you perceive the least Alteration in your Ratafia, more Spirit must be added to stop the Fermentation; and by this Method it may be kept the whole Year. If you have any Ratafia remaining at the End of the Year, you must mix it with that just made, adding a large Proportion of black Cherries; because the Colour in the old Ratafia will not be equal to that of the new. Or you may add to your old Ratafia a proper Quantity of the fresh Juice of black Cherries, which will restore its Colour, and, in a great Measure its Flavour too: So that if your Ratafia has been well preserved, it will, when mixed with fresh Juice of black Cherries, be but little inferior to the new. 4. _Of white Ratafia._ As red Fruits are the Basis of that called red Ratafia, so, on the contrary, that made from the Juices of white Fruits is denominated white Ratafia. There are various Kinds of Ratafia made from various Fruits; but I shall only give Recipes for making three or four Sorts, which will be sufficient for all the rest, as the Method is nearly the same in all. _Recipe for making Ratafia from the Muscat, or white Frontiniac Grape._ The Berries of this Kind of Grape are large, and grow extremely close upon the Bunches, which are very long, and have commonly two Shoulders: The Fruit, when ripe, has a rich musky Flavour; but it is commonly very late in Autumn, before these Grapes are in Perfection; and the Berries being so very close upon the Bunches, detain the Moisture in the Centre; so that they often perish: To prevent which some curious Persons look over their Vines, soon after the Grapes are formed, and, with a Pair of Scissars, cut out all small ones, so as to leave the others at a moderate Distance, whereby the Sun and Air are easily admitted, which dissipates the Moisture, and prevents their perishing. There is another Kind of this Grape, called by some the white Frontiniac of _Alexandria_, and by others the _Jerusalem_ Muscat, which is a very large Grape, and, when ripe, an excellent Fruit; but is rarely brought to Perfection in _England_. The Berries of the _Jerusalem_ Muscat, are of an oval Shape, and very large. They grow very loose on the Bunches, are very fleshy and firm, and, when ripe, are of greenish white, and a delicate Flavour. Either of these Kinds of Grapes will make very fine Ratafia; but which ever of them are chosen, they must be picked from the Stalks, and only the finest Berries made use of. The Stones must also be picked out; for if they are bruised with the Berries, the fine Flavour of the Juice will be greatly diminished. When you have picked the Grapes from the Stalks, and taken out the Stones, press out the Juice, and filtrate it through a Flannel Bag. Then add the Quantity of Sugar and Spirit, and flavour it to your mind with a Spirit distilled from Spices, in the manner explained below. The general Proportion of Sugar and Spirit, is, to twenty Pints of the Juice, five Pounds and a Half of Sugar, ten Pints of Spirit, and what Quantity you please of the spicy Spirit. To make the spicy Spirit, take of Mace one Pound, Nutmegs four Ounces, Spirit three Gallons, and draw off the whole in Balneum Mariæ. By the same Method you may make red Ratafia from the red Frontiniac; except that the Grapes, when bruised, must be suffered to ferment three or four Days, before the Juice is pressed out; because the Colour, which resides principally in the Skins of the Grapes, will, by that means, be extracted. The Berries of the red Muscat, or red Frontiniac, are about the Size of those of the white; but grow much thinner on the Bunches. This Grape, when thoroughly ripe, has the richest and highest Flavour of any yet known; but it must have a dry Soil and a South Aspect, otherwise it seldom ripens well in _England_. Besides the above Grape, there is another called by some red Muscat of _Alexandria_, and by others red _Jerusalem_ Muscat. This is not quite so late in ripening as the white Muscat of _Alexandria_ above described; and for that reason more esteemed. The Berries of this Kind are not quite so large as those of the white, but of the same Form, and equal in Goodness. 5. _Of Ratafia from Peaches._ The Ratafia made from the Peach is the finest and richest Flavour of any made from stoned Fruits. It is however necessary to gather the Peach when thoroughly ripe, but, at the same time not to suffer it to hang too long on the Tree: For as, on the one hand, it will not acquire its delicious Flavour and Smell till thoroughly ripe, so, on the other, it will lose both if suffered to hang on the Tree, after it has attained to a full Maturity. Another necessary Caution is, to gather it in fine warm Weather, and near the Middle of the Day; because then both the Flavour and Smell are in the greatest Perfection. It is also requisite to make Choice of the proper Sorts of Peaches; for there is a remarkable Difference in the Flavour of these Fruits. Gardeners reckon above thirty Sorts of Peaches, but not more than half that number are proper for making Ratafia. I shall therefore give a short Description of those that are most proper, that the young Distiller may not be disappointed in making Ratafia from Peaches. 1. The early Purple (called by the _French_ _La Pourprée hâtive_.) This Tree hath smooth Leaves: The Flowers large, and open: The Fruit is large, round, and of a fine red Colour: The Flesh is white, but very red at the Stone; very full of Juice, which has a rich vinous Flavour. This Peach is ripe about the Middle of _August_. 2. The large, or _French_ Mignon. The Leaves of this Tree are smooth, and the Flowers large and open. The Fruit is a little oblong, generally swelling out on one Side, and of a fine Colour. The Juice is very sweet, and of a high Flavour; the Flesh white, but very red at the Stone, which is small, and easily separates from the Flesh. This Peach is ripe in the middle of _August_. 3. The Chevreuse; or, belle Chevreuse. This Tree hath smooth Leaves, and its Flowers are small and contracted. The Fruit is of a middling Size, a little oblong, and of an elegant Colour. The Flesh is white, but very red at the Stone, from which it separates; full of a rich sugary Juice, and ripens towards the latter End of _August_. 4. The red Magdalen, called by the _French_ about _Paris_, _Magdeleine de Courson_. The Leaves of this Tree are deeply sawed, and the Flowers large and open. The Fruit is large, round, and of a fine red Colour. The Flesh is white, but very red at the Stone, from which it separates. The Juice is very sugary, and of a rich Flavour. It is ripe the latter End of _August_. 5. _Smith_’s _Newington_. This Tree hath sawed Leaves, and large open Flowers. The Fruit is of a middling Size, and of a fine red, next the Sun. The Flesh is very firm and white, but very red at the Stone, to which it closely adheres. It has a rich sugary Juice, and is ripe the latter End of _August_. 6. The Chancellor. The Leaves of this Tree are smooth, and the Flowers small and contracted. The Fruit is shaped somewhat like the Belle Chevreuse, but rounder. The Flesh is white and melting, and separates from the Stone, where it is of a fine red Colour. The Skin is very thin, and the Juice remarkably rich. It ripens about the End of _August_. 7. The Bellegarde; or, as the _French_ call it, the _Gallande_. This Tree hath narrow Leaves, and small contracted Flowers. The Fruit is very large and round, and of a deep purple Colour, on the Side exposed to the Sun. The Flesh is white, melting, and separates from the Stone, where it is of a deep red Colour. The Juice is very rich. This Peach is ripe about the beginning of _September_. 8. The Bourdine. The Leaves of this Tree are smooth, and the Flowers small and contracted. The Fruit is large, round, and of a fine red Colour next the Sun. The Flesh is white, melting, and separates from the Stone, where it is of a fine red Colour. The Juice is vinous and rich. It is ripe the beginning of _September_, and greatly esteemed by the curious. 9. The Lisle; or, as the _French_ call it, _la petite Violette Hâtive_. This Tree hath smooth Leaves, and small contracted Flowers. The Fruit is of a middle Size, and next the Sun of a fine violet Colour. The Flesh is of a pale yellow, melting, full of a rich vinous Juice; but adheres to the Stone, where it is very red. This Fruit is ripe the Beginning of _September_. 10. The old _Newington_. The Leaves of this Tree are sawed, and the Flowers large and open. The Fruit is fair, large, and of a beautiful red Colour next the Sun. The Flesh is white, melting, and closely adheres to the Stone, where it is of a deep red Colour. The Juice is very rich and vinous. It is ripe about the Middle of _September_. 11. The Rambouillet, commonly called the Rambullion. This Tree has smooth Leaves, and large open Flowers. The Fruit is of a middling Size, rather round than long, deeply divided by a Furrow in the Middle; of a fine red Colour next the Sun, but of a light Yellow next the Wall. The Flesh is melting, of a bright yellow Colour, except near the Stone, from which it separates, where it is of a deep red. The Juice is rich and of a vinous Flavour. This Fruit ripens about the Middle of _September_. 12. The Pourprée; or, as the _French_ generally call it _Pourprée tardive_, the late Purple. The Leaves of this Tree are very large, and sawed, the Shoots strong, and the Flowers small and contracted. The Flesh, except near the Stone, from which it separates, and where it is red, is white, melting, and of a rich sugary Juice. It is not ripe till near the End of _September_. 13. The Nevette. The Leaves of this Tree are sawed, and the Flowers small and contracted. The Fruit is large, somewhat longer than round, of a bright red Colour next the Sun, and of a pale yellow on the other. The Flesh is melting, full of a rich Juice, and very red at the Stone, from which it separates. It ripens about the Middle of _September_, and is esteemed one of the best Peaches. 14. The Royal. This Tree hath smooth Leaves, and small contracted Flowers. The Fruit is large, round, and of a deep red on the Side exposed to the Sun, but of a pale yellow on the other. The Flesh is white, melting, and full of a rich Juice, of a white Colour, except near the Stone from which it separates, where it is of a deep red. This Fruit is ripe about the Middle of _September_. 15. The monstrous Pavy of Pomponne. The Leaves of this Tree are smooth; the Flowers large and open. The Fruit is very large and round, many times fourteen Inches in Circumference. The Flesh is white, melting, and closely adheres to the Stone, where it is of a deep red Colour. The Side next the Sun is a beautiful red, and the other of a pale flesh Colour. It ripens about the End of _October_, and when the Autumn is warm, is an excellent Peach. The above Description of the different Kinds of Peaches proper for making Ratafia, will be of use to the young Artist, as the fine Flavour of this Liquor in a great Measure depends on a proper Choice of the Fruits used in the Composition; and if the Instructions relating to the Perfections and Ripeness of these Fruits are observed, an excellent Cordial may be easily made in the following manner. Take your Peaches, bruise them, and instantly strain out their Juice thro’ a Piece of strong Linen. In this Juice, without any Mixture of Water, dissolve your Sugar. And when the Sugar is melted, add the Quantity of Spirit. No Spices must be used in this Ratafia, the fine Flavour of the Peach being far preferable to all Spices in the World. The Quantity of either the Sugar or Spirit may be augmented or lessened according to your own Judgment, or in Proportion to the Price of your Ratafia. As soon as the Spirit is added to the dulcified Juice of the Peaches, the whole must be filtrated thro’ a Flannel Bag, put into Bottles close stopped; for the fine Flavour of the Peach will soon be lost unless the Bottles are very well corked. Some also cover the Cork with Sealing-wax, which is not a bad Caution. If you would have your Ratafia of a bright red Colour, your must let your bruised Peaches ferment a Day or two; by which means the Colour of the Skin, and that of the Flesh near the Stone, will be extracted, and give your Ratafia the Colour desired. 4. _Of Orange-flower Ratafia._ The Orange-flower has been already described, Page 127. I shall therefore only add, that the Orange-flowers used in making Ratafia should be large, in their full Perfection, gathered before the Rising of the Sun, and carefully picked from their Stalks, _&c._ Some blanch the Orange-flowers, by putting them into a small Quantity of Water, and boiling them a few Minutes over the Fire. But by this Method the most volatile Parts of the Flower are evaporated, by which the Ratafia will lose much of its delicate Flavour. The best way therefore is to use the Orange-flowers without any previous Boiling. _Recipe for making ten Gallons of Orange-flower Ratafia._ Take of Orange-flowers fresh gathered, and clean picked from their Stalks, _&c._ five Pounds, and infuse them six Days in five Gallons of clean Proof Spirit. Dissolve fourteen Pounds of Sugar in five Gallons of Water; and after straining the Spirit from the Flowers, mix it with the Syrup, and filtrate the whole thro’ a Flannel Bag. Some instead of common Water use the Orange-flower Water; but it will be necessary in pursuing that Method to take care that the Water be fresh made, and very fragrant; for otherwise instead of improving, you will greatly injure the fine Flavour of your Ratafia. The foreign Distillers keep two Sorts of Orange-flower Ratafia, one they call _single_ and the other _double_. The former is made according to the above Recipe; but in making the latter they use double the Quantity of Orange-flowers, and considerably augment the Proportion of Sugar. It will be needless to give a Recipe for making that Sort of Ratafia, which they call _double_, as the Process is exactly the same. 5. _Ratafia of_ Portugal _Orange_. Ratafia may be made from any Sort of Orange; but that of the _Portugal_ Orange is reckoned the best. The Oranges must be chosen fair, large, and ripe; and the outer or yellow Peel be carefully taken off. The Juice of the Oranges must be then pressed out, dulcified with Sugar, and mixed with the Spirit: after which the outer Rinds are to be added, and after a proper Infusion, the whole filtrated through a Flannel Bag. _Recipe for making three Gallons of_ Portugal _Orange Ratafia_. Take of the Juice of _Portugal_ Oranges two Gallons; clean rectified Spirit one Gallon; four Pounds of Sugar; and the outer Peel of ten Oranges. Let the whole infuse a Fortnight, and then filter the Liquor through a Flannel Bag. Some instead of infusing the Peel as directed in the above Recipe, put the Peel into the Spirit, and distil it in Balneum Mariæ; after which they add the Spirit to the dulcified Orange-juice, and filtrate as before. The foregoing Recipes for making Ratafia from different Fruits, _&c._ will be sufficient to instruct the young Distiller in the Method necessary to be pursued for making Cordials of this Kind; for it would be tedious to give Formula’s for making all the Kinds of Ratafia kept by different Distillers. The Method in all is nearly the same; and the Proportion of Sugar and Spirit may be easily discovered by a few Experiments. I shall therefore conclude this Chapter with giving a Recipe for making what is called by our _English_ Distillers Ratafia, tho’ a very bad Composition. _Recipe for making ten Gallons of common Ratafia._ Take of Nutmegs eight Ounces; bitter Almonds ten Pounds; _Lisbon_ Sugar eight Pounds; Ambergrise ten Grains: Infuse these Ingredients three Days in ten Gallons of clean Proof Spirit, and filter thro’ a Flannel Bag for use. The Nutmegs and bitter Almonds must be bruised; and the Ambergrise rubbed with the _Lisbon_ Sugar in a Marble Mortar, before they are infused in the Spirit. CHAP. LIII. _Of Gold Cordial._ This Cordial has its Name from Leaf Gold being formerly used in its Composition; but as later Experiments have abundantly demonstrated that Gold can add nothing to its Virtues, it is now generally omitted. _Recipe for making ten Gallons of Gold Cordial._ Take of the Roots of Angelica, four Pounds; Raisins stoned, two Pounds; Coriander-seeds, Half a Pound; Caraway-seeds and Cinnamon, of each Half a Pound; Cloves two Ounces; Figs and Liquorice-root, of each one Pound; Proof Spirit eleven Gallons; Water two Gallons: The Angelica, Liquorice, and Figs must be sliced, before they are added. Digest two Days, and draw off by gentle Heat, till the Faints begin to rise, hanging in a Piece of Linen fastened to the Mouth of the Worm an Ounce of _English_ Saffron. Then dissolve eight Pounds of Sugar in three Quarts of Rose Water, and add it to the distilled Liquor. Some Distillers instead of Saffron colour their Goods with burnt Sugar, but by this means the Cordial is greatly impaired in its Virtues. Or, Take of the Juice of Alchermes five Ounces; Cloves two Ounces and a Half; Musk and Ambergrise, of each Half a Dram; Loaf Sugar ten Pounds; Proof Spirit eleven Gallons; digest the whole a Fortnight in a close Vessel, and filter thro’ a Flannel Bag for use. Some add thirty Leaves of Gold; but the Medicine is not at all the better for it. Either of the above Recipes will produce an excellent Cordial; good in Tremblings, Faintings, and Lowness of Spirits, _&c_. Also in Nauseas and Griping Pains of the Stomach and Bowels. CHAP. LIV. _Of Cardamum, or All-fours._ This Water has its Name from the four Ingredients in its Composition; and in some Countries is greatly used by the poorer Sort of People. _Recipe for making ten Gallons of Cardamum._ Take of Pimento, Caraway and Coriander-seeds, and Lemon-peel, of each