Expert: Paul Wagner - 8/28/2008

Question
I have been given an old bottle of courvoisiere "old liqueur cognac" for auctioning at our charity auction. It says "nombre limite" on bottle no JG8576. Can you please give me some idea of what a reasoable price estimate would be for this bottle?

Answer
HI Sue

This is a European bottling of nice Cognac from Courvousier.  It was bottled from a specific Cuvee, and that's what the number on the bottle refers to.

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.  It's really good stuff, but I don't think it would sell for more than about $150---and only if you can really show that it hasn't been damaged or diluted in any way.  A recent bottle of similar vintage sold on ebay for 82 Euros, or about $125.


Hope that helps.

Paul Wagner