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Beverages/Old Ballantine's & Port Wine

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Expert: - 1/7/2011


Question

Bottles
I have a bottle of 30 Year Old Ballantine’s Liqueur Blended Scotch Whiskey that I stored in my wine seller from the time I purchased it in 1968 and a bottle of Fine Douro Port  of the 1946 Vintage shipped by C N or M A Silva Oporto vine.  I do not enjoy either so what can you tell me about these bottles.  What is the best way to sell them.

Answer
HI Jay

There are two different questions here.  The Scotch is perfectly good to drink, but distilled spirits like this don't change much in the bottle, because the alcohol level is too high.  So they also don't appreciate in value the way some fine wines do.  The port is a more complicated question.  It still might have some life, even though it is very old for such wine.  And it is important to note that it is a "port of the vintage" rather than a "vintage port."  The latter is more valuable.  

But this one is interesting, and I would suggest that you speak to a fine wine auction house about it.  It is illegal for private individuals in the USA to sell alcoholic beverages, so you'll have to work through an auction house or a retailer...and pay them a commission.

Or you could give it to someone who loves such wines.  It would be a nice gift.

Hope that helps.

Paul Wagner  
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentPaul’s response was faster then I expected and he gave me good information. Thanks Paul


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Paul Wagner

Expertise

I have spent most of my adult life eating and drinking throughout the world, and can usually remember some of it!

Experience


Past/Present clients
Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines Company, The Court of Master Sommeliers, Constellation Wines, The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, Vinitaly, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner.

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