1827 Wine and spirit adulterators unmasked

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(which, however, bears no kind of relation, either in costliness or quality, to the genuine article), as * Fine Old East India Madeira, at unprecedented cheap prices, for ready money only.' \Vith re- spect to WEST INDIA MADEIRA, Which ranks next to the article on which I have up, so as to partake of the least adulteration, and to be, as our cheap sellers term it, ' of capital quality,' the fol- lowing is the mode in which it is treated : to a portion of good West India Madeira, is added a quantity of Old Thin Direct Madeira, which would otherwise be unsaleable, and to which, if too nearly approaching to acidity, a few ounces of Carbonate of Soda is applied, in order to rid it of that quality, and render it more fit for use. After being well rummaged together in the cask or vat, if it be thought by the maker up, too poor, a small quantity of Mountain, is introduced to en- rich it. The whole, however, when thus mixed up, on the plan to answer the views of the most conscientious of our advertisers, constitutes the ar- ticle, sold under the title of * Fine Old Soft-fla- vored West India Madeira? at prices, which leave a profit, of, at least twenty-five per cent, although if genuine, it would cost an equal per centage more. The Wine, to which I have now to proceed, as pos- sessing the next relation in point of character, is remarked ; if intended to be made

just