This section is from the book "Beverages And Their Adulteration Origin, Composition, Manufacture, Natural, Artificial, Fermented, Distilled, Alkaloidal And Fruit Juices", by Harvey W. Wiley. Also available from Amazon: Beverages And Their Adulteration.
From the above summary it is seen that a potable brandy is an old distillate from the fermented juice of fruits, and each kind contains a characteristic flavor or aromatic substances which distinguishes it as coming from one particular kind of fruit. A true brandy is never mixed with another kind of liquor, and in order to be of the proper palatability and wholesomeness should be aged at least four, or better, six or eight years in oak wood.
 
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