Expert: Paul Wagner - 1/10/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have an un-open bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu. It is a 4/5 quart bottle with the federal revenue tax stamp intact.The box and bottle are in perfect condition within a blue box with gold colored cloth inside the box. I am coriuos what it's value is?

I live in the Chicago land area if you could recommend a qualified appraiser in this area.

Thank you, Keith

ANSWER: Hi Keith

Distilled spirits lkike this really only develop and improve with age in the barrel, not the bottle.  They are so high in alcohol that once they are bottled they don't change much, for better or worse, the way wines do. That means they don't change much in value, either.

With that in mind, your bottle is probably worth more or less what a current bottling of the same product is: about $35-50.  Some of the older bottles have a collectible character--but these are usually scotch or bourbon bottles, not cognacs.

Sorry that I don't have more exciting news.

You can check with a local expert in Chicago--Pat Fegan of the Chicago Wine School comes to mind.  He is also on this site as one of the experts.

Paul Wagner

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for the quick response.

I also have a 750mL bottle of Louis XIII, It is in a red octagon box. This bottle is also un-opened with the federal revenue tax stamp intact. The box and bottle are in perfect condition.

Same question about the value?

Also, any idea as to how I could sell these?

Answer
HI Keith

This is very expensive stuff, and I think you can find it at retail for between $1500 and $!800 a bottle.  

The only way a private individual can sell alcohol in the USA is to work through a licensed retailer or auction house.  THat means you'll have to find a retailer who wants to help you, or consign these to an auction house that will sell them for you.  In either case they will take a significant commission---usually at least 15%.  

Paul Wagner