What's up with this bottle of locally made Gin "Botanical Gin" with no branding?

[airborne]

I was looking for some cheap and cheerful Gin that was just going to be mixed with softdrinks so pretty much anything would do, I normally order Gordons Gin but that was out of stock and I came across this so called "Botanical Gin 750 ml • 43% ABV", it was selling for R149 at Pnp.
I ordered it and the bottle is quite strange, no branding, no ingredient list, it doesn't have a traditional paper label rather it has a shrink wrapped plastic label that covers the whole bottle, like some energy drinks do. It's made in South Africa and it's not a house brand because it's sold by Pnp and Spar and possibly a few other supermarkets. Also it's 43% alcohol not the new standard 40% which is also unusual because I'm assuming 43% is more expensive to make than 40% so you'd think a budget brand would be 40%. It tastes ok, Gin generally tastes like what I'd imagine turpentine tastes like so I can't really comment on the quality of the liquor itself.

Aren't there rules regarding having an ingredient list/contact info on the bottle?

It's really peculiar that it has no branding whatsoever, who would make this kind of product, is it perhaps from an established manufacturer that is just using this non-branded product to get rid of excess production?
Maybe @Craig_ might have some ideas?

 

[airborne]

This is what it looks like

 

[chrisc]

Seems to be an unknown barcode as well

 

[airborne]

Seems to be an unknown barcode as well

I also noticed the barcode doesn't pick up much.

They also sell a Gin Cooler product, also with the same A1848 identification stated below the branding like the Gin bottle
I wonder what A1848 that refers to?

Pick n Pay Online Shopping

www.pnp.co.za

 

[neoprema]

The problem is its not Vodka. throw it away and buy something proper

 

[B-1]

The ingredients is right there on the back as well as the front. It clearly says its gin.

 

[airborne]

The problem is its not Vodka. throw it away and buy something proper

I was going to get a bottle of good ol Smirnoff before I noticed the op bottle.

The ingredients is right there on the back as well as the front. It clearly says its gin.

Water and ethanol?

 

[Fulcrum29]

Eeeuw. The least the packaging could do is indicate where it was bottled. Is this a PnP home brand or something?

 

[Gordon_R]

Google just says it is a 'house' brand, with no further details;

Contract/House Bottling: It is produced locally in South Africa for major retail groups (including Pick n Pay and Spar) rather than being tied to a standalone or craft distillery brand.

 

[airborne]

Eeeuw. The least the packaging could do is indicate where it was bottled. Is this a PnP home brand or something?

That's what I assumed at first but it's not.
It does actually state on the label that it's produced and bottled in South Africa so at least it's not some garbage imported from China or some other 3rd world hell hole in 1 kilo-litre vats/flowbins.

Isn't there some law regarding having the manufacturer or contact details on the label, say there's a poisoning situation who would EMS contact to try find out what ingredients are in the bottle or find out if there were any batch issues/recalls?

 

[Smiggles]

The ingredients is right there on the back as well as the front. It clearly says its gin.

This. Weird thread is weird.

 

[airborne]

This. Weird thread is weard.

The forum weirdo drops in to call the thread weird

 

[Fulcrum29]

That's what I assumed at first but it's not.
It does actually state on the label that it's produced and bottled in South Africa so at least it's not some garbage imported from China or some other 3rd world hell hole in 1 kilo-litre vats/flowbins.

Isn't there some law regarding having the manufacturer or contact details on the label, say there's a poisoning situation who would EMS contact to try find out what ingredients are in the bottle or find out if there were any batch issues/recalls?

I have never seen it, but I guess this is Gin Chateau Libertas.

 

[Craig_]

This is what it looks like

View attachment 1946310


View attachment 1946311

I think that A number belongs to Distell, or Heineken as it's known now. I'll check when I'm back in the office tomorrow.

Edit: not distell, I don't know these people.

 

[Craig_]

I also noticed the barcode doesn't pick up much.

They also sell a Gin Cooler product, also with the same A1848 identification stated below the branding like the Gin bottle
I wonder what A1848 that refers to?

Pick n Pay Online Shopping

www.pnp.co.za

View attachment 1946324

The A number is a producer number, every producer of anything alcoholic will have one, it has to be on every label in order to get approval. Even if there is nothing of note on the label, the A number will always refer back to the company that submitted the label for approval.

 

[airborne]

I think that A number belongs to Distell, or Heineken as it's known now. I'll check when I'm back in the office tomorrow.

Edit: not distell, I don't know these people.
View attachment 1946376

The A number is a producer number, every producer of anything alcoholic will have one, it has to be on every label in order to get approval. Even if there is nothing of note on the label, the A number will always refer back to the company that submitted the label for approval.

I thought as much, thanks for the info.
Those guys also make really cheap Vodka that also has virtually no identifications on it and is super cheap.
What do you think is up with this company, they surely can't be distilling/manufacturing these products themselves?

This is the Vodka

Pick n Pay Online Shopping

www.pnp.co.za

 

[airborne]

The company making it as per @Craig_ screenshot is called BRC BLACK RESOURCES CONSULTING and is owned by two Indian dudes going by this listing below:

BRC BLACK RESOURCES CONSULTING
K2017445277
·
Private company
·
2017-10-05 · 9 years ago
·
South Africa

VA
Vishnu Aroon Edward Director

DC
Dealean Chetty Director

https://b2bhint.com/en/company/za/brc-black-resources-consulting--K2017445277

 

[Craig_]

I thought as much, thanks for the info.
Those guys also make really cheap Vodka that also has virtually no identifications on it and is super cheap.
What do you think is up with this company, they surely can't be distilling/manufacturing these products themselves?

This is the Vodka

Pick n Pay Online Shopping

www.pnp.co.za

Its dodgy, and I'm saying this purely based on the price. The excise alone on that bottle would be just over R97 ( I'll check the exact cost tomorrow) then there's VAT, production cost, transport etc. And they're selling this at R150, at a retail shop? How are they making money on this, unless they're skipping excise.

I wouldn't even be comfortable doing a tasting of this product. There's lots of dodgy things going on in SA.

 

[Craig_]

I was approached by someone a while ago to sell their gin on my licence, at a price that didn't even cover the excise. I asked for copies of his DA260 as proof that his excise is paid, never heard back from him again.

 

[airborne]

Its dodgy, and I'm saying this purely based on the price. The excise alone on that bottle would be just over R97 ( I'll check the exact cost tomorrow) then there's VAT, production cost, transport etc. And they're selling this at R150, at a retail shop? How are they making money on this, unless they're skipping excise.

I wouldn't even be comfortable doing a tasting of this product. There's lots of dodgy things going on in SA.

I didn't realise the excise taxes on liquor was so high, that's extortionate, how can manufacturers even make a profit after paying those rates?!!
That means an established brand like Smirnoff or Gordons Gin selling their 750ml bottle for around R180 is a real bargain.
How much is the excise tax on a 750ml bottle of wine?

Price hikes for alcohol and tobacco in South Africa incoming

South Africans who like to indulge in alcohol and tobacco products will see prices climb even higher this year.

businesstech.co.za