| Description | produced in collaboration with Merioneth County Record Office, lauding the merits of Royal Welsh Whisky, and showing advertisements and photographs of the period 1887-1924 approx. The whisky was produced at Frongoch Distillery, near Bala (under the trading name of the Welsh Whisky Distillery Co.Ltd.), which flourished from its founding in 1887 by R.J.Lloyd Price (of Rhiwlas) and Robert Willis, but which nevertheless fell on hard times and was liquidated in 1900. Thereafter the building was used in turn as an internment camp for German prisoners-of-war and Irish dissidents. There are photographs of these , and of the distillery, the workers and the "whisky train". Some pof the slogans and advertising cartoons are memorable : for instance,"...For many years this liquid joy has been with staves of oak, longing to touch the lips of man, nor will its prototype from the Sherry Casks disdain the more dulcet labial entanglement with any New or Old Woman"! A cartoon shows a witch riding an airborne whisky-barrel side-saddle, and the accompanying jingle rhymes "Price of Rhiwlas" with "... Man and New Lass". The eulogies of another blurb-writer claim that "the Welsh Wkisky Distillery at Frongoch, near Bala, is situated in the neighbourhood of the Works where the celebrated Rhiwlas Aluminous Earth, so useful to the Boiler Composition Makers as a filling far superior to Kaolins, by Cement, Polish and Polishing Powder, and Disinfectant Makers, is Mined and Manufactured. Unequalled for deodorizing purpose, and for use in Earth Closets"! A Clear instance of "in vino vilitas"......! |