Expert: Paul Wagner - 12/31/2009

Question
Good Morning,
I have a quart bottle from 1936 of Hepburn's Perfection malt Scotch with the original box, and I am trying to get a value on it.
Never opened, seal never broken.
Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks,

Dean

Answer
Hi Dean

Distilled spirits like this are so high in alcohol that they don't change much over time in the bottle.  The good news is that yours should be fine to drink.  The bads news is that it won't have appreciated in value the way some fine wines do.  I'd estimate yours at about what a current bottling might sell for:  about $35 or so?  

You might want to check with the guys at antiquebottles.com.  They could tell you if the bottle itself might be worth more than the liquid inside...with distilled spirits, often the value is in the container, more than the liquid!

Sorry that I don't have more exciting news for you.

Paul Wagner