Expert: Paul Wagner - 2/22/2008

Question
I found a bottle of Crown Royal Canadian Whiskey UNOPENED with the tax stamps still in place ove the lid.  It was in the distinctive purple cloth bag in it's original box.  It is a 1/2 gallon container.  It is dated 1959.  Does anyone know the value of such an old whiskey with all the original packaging?  Or should I just open it and start singing Meloncholy Baby...

Answer
Hi Michael

Unlike some fine wines, distilled spirits like this do not change much in the bottle, for better or for worse, because the alcohol levels are so high.  The good news is that this should be perfectly good to drink.  The bad news is that it doesn't taste much different from a current bottling.  As a result, connoisseurs wouldn't pay much more for this bottle.  I would estimate the value of these bottles at around $75-125 at a wine and spirits auction.  

Please note that it is illegal for private individuals to sell alcoholic beverages in the USA, so you would have to work through a retailer or auction house, who would take their commission.

But this is an interesing bottle in itself, and these bottles are sometimes quite collectible, so you might find more interest (and higher prices) among bottle collectors.  Go to antiquebottles.com and see if anyone there has more interest...they are good people with a lot of good information.

Hope you have great 2008.

Paul Wagner