Expert: Paul Wagner - 10/7/2008

Question
i was recently given a supposedly old bottle of unopened bols ballerina gold,the seal is slightly damaged will this affect the value should i wish to sell and having seen many a bottle on thew internet wonder if mine is any rarer as the ballerina is wearing gold! i dont wish to sell as yet but wonder weather i should drink it or apreciate the sentiment?

Answer
Hi Lisa

Distilled spirits like this have such high alcohol levels that they don't change much over time.  That means that your bottle should be just fine to drink, but it also means that it hasn't improved with age the way some fine wines do.  The result is that you won't be able to sell this for much more than a current bottling.  I've seen these sell for between %25 and $50 on ebay, at most---and only if you can really show that it hasn't been damaged or diluted in any way.  

It is illegal for private individuals to sell alcoholic beverages in the USA, so you have to work through an auction house or wine shop. They will, in turn, ask for a commission.

You might check with the folks at antiquebottles.com--they know more about the actual bottles and boxes than I do, and one this old might be worth more than the liquid inside.  

Sorry I can't give you more exciting news.

Paul Wagner