It does help to keep the cake longer, plus helps keep it lovely and moist. I made one large square cake which I have cut into 4 to make small ones, 4 Christmas puds and 3 jars mincemeat and used a whole bottle of brandy in them!
I think that's where the old saying of have a MERRY C h r i s t m a s comes from!
Lucky you finding that old book! I have a few old cookery books, but nothing that old! When we were in our last house, OH went up into the attic when we first moved in and said there's some old magazines up there, shall I get rid of them?
When he brought them down, it was a full set of the Cordon Bleu Cookery Course from the 70's. I'd always wanted them when I was younger, but couldn't afford them. So now I have a full set! Covers just about evrything you want to know about cooking!