Expert: Paul Wagner - 11/26/2011

Question
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Please help me if you can, I have a bottle of Hennessey Cognac that I suspect is very old. I was cleaning out some old stuff out of  a friends attic. The only item worth mentioning is this bottle. The only reference to date on the bottle is on  the label. Schieffelin & Co. New York- Importers since 1794. There is a seal  over the top that says...US Internal Revenue  - Tax paid - Distilled Spirits -series 112 - ....there is also a serial number of some kind -321526767



I would like to know the apraisel value. If you can please advise? I would be greatfull!

Thank you

Sincerely

Michael Beyer

Answer
HI Michael

Distilled spirits like this are so high in alcohol that they don't change, for better or for worse, once they go into the bottle.  The good news is that this is fine to drink.  The bad news is that it hasn't appreciated in value the way some fine wines do.  This one is worth about $40 or so, maybe a bit less.  The name, by the way, is Hennessey-although the old type is hard to read sometimes.

For some reason, Scotch bottles seem to be much more collectible than Cognac.  You could check with the guys as antiquebottles.com, but I am pretty sure this one is just about the liquid inside.

If it were mine, I would drink it or give it to someone who likes Cognac.

Sorry I can't give you more exciting news

Paul Wagner