CHAP. LVI.
Of Cherry Brandy.
This Liquor is greatly called for in the Country; and is made different ways. Some press out the Juice of the Cherries, and having dulcified it with Sugar, add as much Spirit to it as the Goods will bear, or the Price it is intended to be sold for. But the common Method is to put the Cherries clean picked into a Cask, with a proper Quantity of Proof Spirit, and after standing eighteen or twenty Days, the Goods are drawn off into another Cask for Sale, and about two thirds of the first Quantity of Spirits poured into the Cask upon the Cherries. This is suffered to stand about a Month to extract the whole Virtue from the Cherries, after which it is drawn off as before; and the Cherries pressed to take out the Spirit they had absorbed. The Proportion of Cherries and Spirit is not very nicely observed; the general Rule is to let the Cask be about half filled with Cherries, and then filled up with Proof Spirits. Some add to every twenty Gallons of Spirit half an Ounce of Cinnamon, an Ounce of Cloves, and about three Pounds of Sugar, by which the Flavour of the Goods is considerably increased. But in order to save Expences, not only the Spices and Sugar are generally omitted, but also great Part of the Cherries, and the Deficience supplied by the Juice of Elder-berries. Your own Reason therefore, and the Price you can sell your Goods for, must direct you in the Choice of your Ingredients.
By the same Method you may make Rasberry Brandy; and if the Colour of the Goods be not deep enough, it may be improved by an Addition of Cherry Brandy.
CHAP. LVII.
Of Honey Water.
This Water has its Name from the Honey in its Composition; tho’ that Ingredient is but of very little Service to the Water, if made according to the usual Method.
Recipe for making a Gallon of Honey Water.
Take of the best Honey and Coriander-seeds, of each one Pound; Cloves, one Ounce and a Half; Nutmegs and Gum Benjamin, of each an Ounce; Vanilloes Number four. The yellow Rind of three large Lemons: Bruise the Cloves, Nutmegs, Coriander-seed, and Benjamin; cut the Vanilloes in pieces, and put all into a Glass Alembic, with one Gallon of clean rectified Spirit, and after digesting forty eight Hours, draw off the Spirit in Balneum Mariæ. To a Gallon of the above Spirit, add of damask Rose Water and Orange-flower Water, of each a Pound and a Half; Musk and Ambergrise of each five Grains. Grind the Musk and Ambergrise with some of the Water in a Glass Mortar, and afterwards put all together into a digesting Vessel, shaking them well together, and let them circulate three Days and three Nights in a gentle Heat: Then let all cool; filter and keep the Water in Bottles well stopped for use.
This Water was first made by that faithful Chemist Mr. George Wilson, for King James II. It is an Antiparalitic, smooths the Skin, and gives one of the most agreeable Scents imaginable. Forty or sixty Drops put into a Pint of clean Water, are sufficient for washing the Hands and Face; and the same Proportion to Punch, or any Cordial Water, gives a very agreeable Flavour.
CHAP. LVIII.
Of Unequalled Water, generally sold by the French Name l’Eau sans Pareille.
There are two Sorts of this Water, one drawn considerably below Proof, and rendered fine by Filtration, and the other without the Faints, the Receiver being removed as soon as they begin to rise. The latter is much the best, tho’ dearer than the former.