Bombay Sapphire: A case of accidental overproofing

This is one batch of Bombay Sapphire Gin that will become a collector's item if Canadian officials are unsuccessful in rounding up all the bottles.

A nationwide recall of a particular batch of Bombay Sapphire has been issued after Canadian health authorities discovered a batch of bottles containing gin that is 77% alcohol -- in other words, a phenomenal 154 proof! By law, the maximum proof is 80.

Bacardi, parent company of Bombay and other brands such as Grey Goose, Martini, St. Germain and Bacardi rums, said that as many as 6,000 Bombay Sapphire 1.14-liter bottles may be affected, and were sold only in Canada. They bear the number "L16304." All have been recalled.

In a news release, Bacardi said, "The over proofproduct inadvertently entered the bottling line during a short period of time -- [up to] 45 minutes -- when [workers] were switching from one bottling tank to another bottling tank." It also said the recall was launched after "an isolated consumer complaint and subsequent quality assurance checks."

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has warned consumers to throw away the bottles or return them to the place of purchase.

---

• Go here to visit the Capital Region Brew Trail
• Go here to visit Dowd On Drinks
• Go here to visit Dowd's New York Wines Notebook

---