Expert: Paul Wagner - 12/17/2009

Question
I have a bottle of Napoleon cognac that my dad brought back from overseas in the late 50's.  It says Napoleon 50 years old on the neck label.  It has an eagle trademark with an N on it.  The label says L.de.Salignac & Co. Cognac - 50 years old.  The label at the very top says Fournisseurs Brevetes then has a royal sign under it and then  says de S N Le Roi de Suede. Any idea what this might be worth?

Answer
Hi Alisha

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 of similar cognac might sell for:  about $75 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...

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

Paul Wagner