The book referred to by Tom Delaney & Co - "The Complete Practical Distiller" has been locked away for safe keeping but will be resurrected shortly.
The latest news is that this book has gone missing. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the original book the webmaster would be be most interested in sighting it.
Ingredients:
crushed malt, oats, sugar. x hundred weight.
Whiskey Recipe Song
Joe Delaney of Melbourne, a grandson of Patrick Delaney - one of "Whiskey" Tom's brothers, recounts how his father and grandfather used to sing a song rhyming off the ingredients of the whiskey recipe. It was measured in hundred weights (not just a small measure)of barley etc.
Delaney's Merry Chooks
Click to Add Your message. He also tells how it was known in the district that the Delaney chooks (poultry) were the merriest in the district after feeding on the mash from the still.
Deliveries
Mr Reg Pitts (dec.) of Timboon, recounts how his father used to deliver grain to Warrnambool in the horse and cart and on the return trip would bring back bags of sugar for the Delaney's. Seems like the distilling was a neighbourly effort...after all they were distilling large amounts per week. Records show that Mr Pitts was fined one evening in Warrnambool for not having a working lantern on his cart. (Perhaps he was trying to get through Warrnambool with as little attention drawn to him as possible.)From Nirranda to Warrnambool the distance is about 30 miles and would probably take over an hour by horse and cart. Of course the horses were well used to work but did get time off on special occasions to run in a local race.
Horse Racing
See the picnic day story for an interesting insight into life in those days.
See also Songs - The Nirranda Hunt which tells of the work horse being ridden in the hunt on the Queen's birthday holiday.
Read About Moonshine, Wine and Whisky Distilling
If you are interested in researching the distilling process or reading further information, look up this interesting web site.
Moonshine Books
Stay posted for updates to this page
