1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

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a ready sale for them, is aided in no trifling de- gree, 'by the circumstance of so much depending on pleasing the eye as to colour, than with respect to which (and paleness of colour, in particular), nothing is more easy to accomplish, in fictitious, and manufactured White Wines. To the requisite proportion of coarse Brown Sherry, which may be purchased at about 60/. per butt, of 108 Imperial gallons, the articles made use of, in what is considered the best mode of making up a resemblance of Pale Sherry, or where the number of spurious ingredients employed for the purpose, are fewest, and in the smallest proportions, consist of the following, in relative qualities CAPE, (to be bought, including duty, for about 221. per pipe of 91 gallons,) previously fined, and racked bright from the lees. BRANDY COWE, which costs nothing, but is useful in lessening the body of the mixture, so as to give it the appearance of being a light-bodied Wine. EXTRACT OF ALMOND CAKE,* (used also in * On reference to the trial of Oldfield, it will be seen that the composition applied by him to impart the proper flavor to his adul- terated Wine, was formed of a mixture of Sweet and Bitter Al- monds, with Powdered Oyster Shells and Chalk, the two latter in- gredients being added, to bind and concentrate the whole. By those, however, of our advertisers, who, are even more knowing than Mr. Oldfield, the Extract of Almond Cake is usually preferred, as not having so great a tendency to alter the face of the Wine, or render it less transparent, and also as it is supposed to impart a more delicate flavor.