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134
British brandy is entitled still to be so named and sold as "British
brandy."
They also considered that the determination of the application of the term
"brandy" in this country cannot be controlled by the nature of the
apparatus or process used in the distillation of the spirit.
RUM.
The Commission consider that the definition of rum as "a spirit distilled
direct from sugar-cane products in sugar-cane growing countries," fairly
represents the nature of the spirit a purchaser would expect to obtain when
he asks for "Rum." The Customs already recognise the distinction between
"rum," "rum from Jamaica," and "imitation rum," and the Commission
consider that this differentiation should be continued.
GIN.
The Commission had several definitions of this spirit submitted to them,
and quote two of them, but say nothing conclusive on this point.
It appears they were unable to obtain from the Excise information such as
furnished with regard to whisky, because gin is not produced under close
Excise supervision, but is manufactured out of bond from duty-paid spirit.
As a general rule the manufacturer of gin is a rectifier only, and buys the
spirit which he uses for rectification from a distiller, This spirit, in the
United Kingdom, is produced at patent-still distilleries entirely, and the
London gin makers use London spirit for this purpose very largely.
The Report also contains interesting notes on Liqueurs, &c., "Unenumerated
Spirits" (plain spirit produced in Germany from potatoes,
vodka, arrack, kirschwasser, rye whisky, and Canadian club whisky), compulsory
bonding, labelling in bond, and the application of the Merchandise
Marks Acts and the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts to offences connected with
potable spirits.
Reference must be made to the two notable suggestions made by the
Commission as the result of their deliberations. These are as under:—
"In order to assist in a more certain conducting of prosecutions
"under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, it may be well to consider
"whether statutory provisions may not be made for affording to the
"presiding magistrate assistance in determining the cases submitted to