1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

15

according to the opinions of the maker-up as to which answers the purpose best; their properties being similar, with respect to their giving a hot taste in the mouth, which passes for strength with the persons imposed upon.

a

of

of

consists

merely

Colouring 1 ,

Colouring

preparation

burnt sugar. It is employed to bring up the colour of Brandy which may have become too pale by the

S

o

V^

to answer the

used

preceding mixtures. same end with Rum.

It

is

The reasons for the appli- cation of sugar will be seen in the course of my remarks.

My Readers being thus necessarily informed of the ingredients which compose the various adul- terations of Brandy, after a few further remarks, in order to render them still better acquainted with the nature of the subject on which I am treating, I will offer to their notice such examples as shall clearly prove the facts I have advanced. By a late Act of Parliament all dealers are allowed to reduce Brandy, Rum, Arrack, Hol- lands &c, to any degree of strength not less than seventeen per cent underproof,* by Sykes's Hy- * My acquaintance with the Wine trade has been very ex- tensive, and enables me to state that I have never known any of those individuals who carried on what may be termed the more respectable business, (that is, where the Wine Merchant depended more on the quality of his article than on any extraordinary cheap- ness in price,) to keep their Brandies and Rums, &c. at a less strength than six or eight per cent, underproof, although they were allowed by the Act to reduce them to seventeen percent, un- derproof.