28 



These values are in grammes per 100 cc. In order to obtaitx the 

 weight of ethers present in a gallon of rum, it is only necessary to mul- 

 tiply the fraction of a gramme given by 10x4.5. 



Most writers have attributed the aroma of rum to the presence of 

 Butyric ether, indeed Gaber in his book " Die Liqueur Fabrikation" 

 (Liqueur Manufacture) states that it is only necessary to allow cana 

 sugar molasses to ferment in Europe at a temperature of 40° C. a 

 temperature favourable to the production of butyric acid, and therefore 

 a necessary preliminary condition to the formation of butyric ether, in 

 order to produce a spirit, which after sufficient storage cannot be dis- 

 tinguished from a true rum. But if we glance at the tables we notice 

 that acetic ether is present in far greater quantity than butyric ether, in 

 one case the proportion or acetic ether to butyric is over 20o : 1, and we 

 must therefore conclude that it is to the comparatively large amount of 

 the first named ether, that rum owes its characteristic aroma, in as far 

 as- ths characteristic aroma is derivable from the presence of ethers. 

 Now in considering these figures from a practical and commercial point 

 of view, we should like to know, what is the influence of the presence of 

 these ethers on the commercial value of the rum : that is, is an incre- 

 ment of ethers present in the sample followed by a corresponding incre- 

 ment in the market price, and vice-versa ? On this point the figures 

 given in the preceding table can give us no information, as the money 

 values of the rums are not stated ; but in Windisch's " Brandy 

 Analysis/' I came across some analysis of rum which possess a greater 

 significance for us, inasmuch as the prices of the rums are also given. 

 In following out this idea I selected from a considerable number of ex- 

 amples four expensive and four cheap rums, and then set myself to 

 compare them together with special regard to the quantities of acids 

 and ethers present. In the original work the prices are expressed in 

 German coinage and for the measure of one litre, but in order to 

 make the figures more intelligible to my readers, I have translated 

 them into the corresponding values in English money per gallon. 



Free Acids. 



Expensive Eums. Formic Acid. Cheap Eums. 





Price. 



(inns per 





Price. 



Gfrms per 



\ T o. 



s. d. 



100 cc. 



No. 



s. 



d. 



100 cc. 



4 



9 11 



•008 



1 



4 







•010 



3 



9 2 



•010 



14 



3 



2 



•013 



9 



8 7 



•010 



12 



3 



1 



•003 



6 



7 8 



•003 



11 



2 



8 



•007 







Total -031 









Total -033 







Acetic 



Acid. 









4 



9 11 



•077 



SI 



4 







•082 



3 



9 2 



•103 



14 



3 



2 



•074 



9 



8 7 



•092 



12 



3 



1 



•089 



6 



7 8 



•066 



11 



2 



8 



•064 



Total -338 



Total -309 



