Expert: Paul Wagner - 1/20/2009

Question
Paul,

I note you answered another question about cognac, so here goes!

I live in Eastern Pennsylvania, in the US. I have a very old bottle of RGB (Rouyer Guillet Brand) cognac. The label is in good shape but there is no vintage. One label says "reserve de l'ange" and there are angels on the bottle. A large mesh wire surrounds the bottle which has been stored on its side in a wine basket for years. How can I get a reliable estimate of its value? Does cognac like this age well? Is it likely to have any value to collectors?

Thanks!


Answer
HI BIll

Distilled products like this don't improve (or get worse) with age because the alcohol level is so high that they simply don't change much over time.  So unlike some fine wines, distilled spirits don't appreciate in value over time in the bottle.  Yours should be perfectly good to drink, but it won't have any higher value than a current bottling of the same stuff.

Sorry I can't give you more exciting news.

Paul Wagner