Bombay Sapphire embroiled in grains of paradise lawsuit

Bacardi is facing a class action lawsuit in Florida over Bombay Sapphire’s grains of paradise botanical, which cannot be used to adulterate alcohol in the state.

Grains of paradise is listed as one of the 10 botanicals used to create Bombay Sapphire

The case has been launched by plaintiff Uri Marrache “on behalf of all persons in the state of Florida who have purchased Bombay Sapphire Gin”. It also names Jacksonville-headquartered Winn-Dixie Supermarkets, which stocks Bombay Sapphire, as a defendant.

Grains of paradise is listed as one of the 10 botanicals used to create Bombay Sapphire. The gin is distilled at Laverstoke Mill in the UK county of Hampshire.

According to the lawsuit, the act of adultering alcohol with grains of paradise is illegal in Florida, and is a “felony of the third degree”. Standards for adulterated alcohol vary in the US from state to state.

“When consumed, grains of paradise have been known for their warming and digestive properties,” the class action reads.

“Additionally, grains of paradise has been used in other parts of the world for medicinal purposes including, without limitation, to treat impotence and to stimulate miscarriages when a pregnancy was unwanted.”

The suit accuses Bacardi of engaging in “unfair methods of competition, unconscionable acts or practices, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the conduct of its trade or commerce, by adultering its Bombay Sapphire Gin with grains of paradise”.

The plaintiff is seeking refunds from Bacardi, as well as payment of legal fees and “further relief as the court may deem proper and just”.

The lawsuit was filed with the Miami-Dade Circuit Court earlier this month. It is not yet known if the case will go to trial.

The Spirits Business has approached Bacardi for comment.