To make red Surfeit-Water. From Mrs. _B._
To three Gallons of Brandy, put the Flower Leaves of a Bushel of red
Poppies, one Pound of Raisins of the Sun stoned, a large Stick of Liquorice
sliced, a quarter Pound of Caraway-Seeds bruised, a large Handful of
Angelica, Sweet Marjoram, red Sage, Dragon's Mint, and Baulm, of each a
handful; let all these be cover'd close in a Glass, or glaz'd Earthen
Vessel, and stand to infuse or steep in the Brandy for nine Days, keeping
it, during that time, in a Cellar; then strain it off upon a Pound and half
of Loaf-Sugar, and put it into Bottles. This is a good Cordial, if used
only when occasion requires.
In this Month, Orange-Flowers are in the greatest plenty; about half a
Pound of them put into a Gallon of Brandy, with a quarter Pound of
Orange-Peel, and half a Pound of double refin'd Loaf-Sugar, makes a very
agreeable Cordial: We may let these Ingredients infuse in the Brandy nine
or ten days before we pour the Brandy from them. Some chuse rather to put
the Sugar to the Brandy after it is pour'd from the Orange-Flowers.
As for the distilling part, we have already several Books which treat
largely of that Business, both with respect to the management of what is
call'd the cold Still, and the Alembick, to which I shall refer: but in
this place I shall only take notice, that whereas several kinds of
distill'd Waters are drawn from many Herbs, which do not appear all the
Year about; so if one has not an opportunity of collecting all our Herbs
together, just when we want them, we may yet distil those we can get at one
time, and make another Distillation of those we collect at another time,
and so mix both Spirits or Waters together: For Example, in those Cordial
Waters where the Ros Solis, or Rosa Solis is used, which is an Herb not
always to be found, and will not keep above a day or two after 'tis
gather'd, this I say may be distill'd by itself, and kept to use with other
Waters at pleasure; putting of this such a proportion as would have been
produced from the quantity directed, of the Plant, in the Receipt, if it
had been distill'd with the other Herbs: and so of any other Herb that is
hard to come by.
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