AboutPaul Wagner Expertise I have spent most of my adult life eating and drinking throughout the world, and can usually remember some of it!
Experience
Past/Present clients Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Company, The Court of Master Sommeliers, Constellation Wines, The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, Vinitaly, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner.
Expert: Paul Wagner Date: 5/12/2008 Subject: USI Alcohol
Question My parents found an unopened bottle of alcohol in the attic. It is unopened in a box. The box says it is "One Wine Gallon" alcohol 190 proof. It has an official stamp sealed on the box. It is dated January 23, 1922 and has a serial number on the box of 82518J. Other pertinent information is:
U.S. Industrial Alcohol Co.
B.W.H. NO.1 DIST. MD.
PERMIT NO.1
I. C. C. -2
Any ideas what this is worth, or who might know?
Answer Hi Mark
This is pure alcohol, pretty much straight from the still during the Prohibition era . It won't have much flavor at all---that comes from aging in oak barrels and the flavorings that are added. And be careful--this stuff could probably work just fine as fuel for your car. That's why almost all distilled spirits are dilute by the addition of at least 50% water. What you have is the pure, unadulterated alcohol.
You might find a museum that might be interested in this from a historical perspective, but from a connoisseur's point of view, this isn't of much interest or value.
