David Josiah Brewer

“ If 'liquors' is here used in its generic sense, the other terms are superfluous. That they are present emphasizes the fact that the word is not so used.
Again, in one paragraph in this section we find this combination: 'Cordials, liquors, arrack, absynthe, kirschenwasser, ratafia, and other similar spirituous beverages or bitters, containing spirits.' Obviously the word 'liquors' here means liqueurs, that being the name of the kind of drinks of the same general nature as those specially mentioned. ”

“ Unless 'liquors' is given a meaning broad enough to include beer, it is superfluous, for 'wines, cordials, and distilled spirits' are ample to cover all intoxicating beverages other than malt liquors, such as ale and beer. ”

“ Seldom is it used alone to define malt liquors, as contradistinguished from those that are spirituous and distilled.
In short, we think it may be laid down, as a general proposition, that, where the term 'liquors' is used in a special sense, spirituous and distilled beverages are intended, in contradistinction to fermented ones; that the use of the four words in this proviso, in the order in which they are arranged, and in the place in which the proviso is found in the schedule, indicates that 'liquors' is used in a special, rather than in a general, sense ”