I have been reading a letter from J R Thomson of Paris and Allen, New York spirit merchants (31 Broad Street for our New York crew) dated 11 January 1870, to E H Taylor Jr. In this letter he discusses the possible extension of the bonding period to two years and how it will hurt the industry and encourage speculation and over production. He also thinks it will lead to a reduction of duties on imported spirits, especially brandy, and that would hurt sales of American whiskey. It is interesting that brandy, not scotch or irish whiskey is seen as the main competition to American bourbon and rye.
Mike Veach