Expert: Paul Wagner - 1/11/2011

Question
I have a very rare bottle of Ron Bacardi 1873 puerto rican rum who could I call and how much is it worth now? Thanks for looking , and the bottle only came in one size. and it never been opened and still have the seal on it

Answer
Hi Maurice

Distilled spirits like this are so high in alcohol that they don't change much over time, for better or for worse.  The good news is that yours should be fine to drink.  The bad news is that it won't have appreciated in value the way some fine wines do.  I'd estimate yours at slighly more than a current bottling, but not a lot.

(By the way, the date on your bottle is almost certainly NOT the date it was made---more likely an important date in the history of the company.  Rum is almost never dated)

You might find that the bottle itself is worth more than the liquid inside.  Check with the guys at antiquebottles.com.  They are very nice, and really know their collectible bottles.

Sorry that I can't give you more exciting news.

Paul Wagner