1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

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Thus then, we have eight pipes of superior Port Wine, made up, according to the best and most ap- proved plan, and which stands our Advertising and Placarding Dealers only in 50/. per pipe of 115 Imperial gallons, every expence included, and reckoned at the very outside ; or should even this be manufactured at too high a price, to render their profits sufficiently adequate to support that degree of modesty for which they are so famous, a slight variation, in the proportion of any of the in- gredients, need only be made, to produce a con- siderable alteration in their favour. By a very simple calculation it will also be shown, that the Wine thus made up, if drawn off in bottles of the size of sixteen to the three gallons, old measure, and adding a charge of Qd. per dozen extra, for corks, would cost only 16*. 9d. per dozen if in the size of bottles termed fifteens, \7s. 9d. per dozen ; and the mystery, therefore, of their advertising genuine Port Wines at 23*. Qd. and 24*. per dozen, and in pipes, hogsheads, and quarter casks, at the rate of 63/. and 651. per pipe, is at once explained. Should, however, any further confirmation be still required, the following Scale, showing the cost per dozen, to the Advertising Dealer, of Port Wines in the London Docks, duty paid, and reckoned from such as are scarcely drinkable, to those of the finest quality, if cleared home and drawn off in one of the smaller size of bottles in use, (\\z.Jif teens,) must clearly convince