Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1886 — HENRY CLAY’S DISCOVERY. [ARTICLE]

HENRY CLAY’S DISCOVERY.

'How the Great itetiickian Treated President Madison to Some Excellent Wine. A correspondent, writing to the Louisville Courier-Journal, says: At the Swiss Settlement of Vevay, Ind., the grape is extensively cultivated, and a very respectable wine called “Constantia,” after a cape wine of that name, which it resembles, in taste, is manufactured. When Vevay was in its infancy, the Hon. Henry Clay, then Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States, received a present of three bottles of this “Constantia” wine—and hereby hangs a tale related to us the other day by a gentleman who heard it in Kentucky. Admiring its flavor, and surprised to hear that wine of 'so good a quality was raised on the banks of the Ohio, Clay, after having drank two bottles, requested his wife to lay. aside the third in order that when he. went to Congress he might take it with him to present to President Madison, not doubting that he would be as much surprised as he himself had been at this specimen of domestic manufacture. Accordingly the third bottle was careftilly deposited in the cellar, and on going to Washington Mr. Clay took it along with him. In Crossing the Alleghenies, fearful that it would get broken, he carried it in his hands a considerable part of the way, and on more than one occasion during the fatiguing passage triumphed over a strong desire to refresh himself with its contents. On arrival at the capital, he sent the “Constantia, ” with as ketch of its history, to the President. A few days after this a grand diplomatic dinner was given at the Wbite House, and Mr, Clay, among others, had an invitation and attended. After the cloth was removed, the President ordered the servants to bring clean glasses, as he had a new kind of wine on which he wanted the opinion of his guests. The glasses were produced, filled with Mr. Clay’s “Constantia,” and passed abound to the company. Clay felt as if the “death agony” was upon him—he feared the result of this comparison of his American wine with the rare European liquors which sparkled upon the table. At length, after the smacking of the lips had ceased, the President, addressing himself to Mr. Wirt, then Attorney General, said: “I don’t know what kind of wine you call this, but it tastes to me confounded strong of Kentucky whisky!” Clay felt as if he should sink to the floor with mortification, but, keeping his countenance, answered: “Well, I don’t know but it does so. I should rather think that it did—but we call this excellent wine 'in Kentucky-;” and thus the matter passed off with some merriment. On his return to his family, Clay related the circumstances, when one of the boys spoke out: “Oh, father, I can tell you how it happened. Tom and I were down in the cellar one day in search of something to drink, when Tom took up the bottle mother had laid away, and before knowing what it was drank off half its contents. Fearing a discovery, we filled it up with a bottle of whisky we found there, and laid it aside again.” Thus was the whisky taste discovered by Mr. Wirt satisfactorily accounted for. Such were the incidents attending the first bottle, perhaps, of American Constantia, or rather whisky, that found its way over the Alleghenies from the banks of the ~ Ohio.