1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

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different qualities and quantities of it in it's genuine state, are required to answer the views of the cheap Wine seller, the following articles in various proportions, viz. BENECARLO,* a strong coarse Spanish Red Wine, known by the denomination of Spanish Black Strap, to be purchased, including duty, at about 38/. per pipe of 115 gallons. FIGUERA,* a Red Wine from the province of Estremadura, in Portugal, of intermediate quality between Black Strap and inferior Port, bearing a the eighth or sixteenth of an inch, from the chance, that in all probability as much would be spilled, and run into the cask placed to receive it; a quantity equal to the portion contained in three quarters of an inch or more, at the bottoms of what are termed their half-quartern glasses, is thus saved to the seller, and an extra profit reckoned at about seven and a half, per cent, de- rived therefrom, amounting to not a very inconsiderable sum of money, even where there is only a tolerable consumption. * It will be proper to remark, that no restriction exists as to mixing one Red Wine with another, providing they both pay the same rate of duty, or one White Wine with another, under a similar proviso; but White Wines cannot legally be mixed with Red, nor can any Wines, whatever, be put together, unless under the circumstance of their duties being equal. Benecarlo and Fignera Wines, pay the same duty as Port, and the fact of an enormous quantity being used of them, and of their being applied to the purposes I have described, and no other, could be fully proved, by a return from the London Dock Company of the im- mense number of pipes of both Wines, which, as is notorious to all of the trade, are yearly imported into, and cleared from thence, to the premises of our cheap sellers, although we never see them mentioned in any of their placards or advertisements, under the denomination which thev bear.