Expert: Paul Wagner - 1/7/2010

Question
Hello Paul,
My husband and I have a bottle of Brandy Marquis La Tour.  We got it after his adopted grandmother passed.  We don't know if it is old or not.  Could you please help us?  It is in a green glass bottle.  It has a cork with black wax type substance covering. The bottle sits at an angle.  There are two finger indentations on the front of the bottle and one on the back for easy handling.  The label states Imported French Brandy.  The glass bottle on the back states Federal Law Forbids Sale or Reuse of this Bottle.  The front label has some french description I believe about the family, culture and distillation.  I hope you can help...Thanks Lynn

Answer
HI Lynn

I don't believe that this is made any more, so at least it's that old...I would guess about 20 years or more.  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 $35-40 a bottle.

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 brandy...sometimes the packaging is worth more than the liquid inside.

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

Paul Wagner