Expert: Paul Wagner - 3/9/2011

Question
I was given a bottle of Dunhill old master whisky number 66333, nearly 20 years ago as a present. i would like to know how old this bottle is and the value of the bottle.
thank you
Annette

Answer
HI Annette

Distilled spirits like this are so high in alcohol that they don't change much in the bottle, for better or worse.  The good news is that this stuff should be perfectly good to drink.  The bad news is that it won't have appreciated in value the way some fine wines do.  This is worth just about as much as current bottlings of the same stuff.

And it is always difficult to estimate the age, because the companies have always tried very hard to hide that from consumers.  They want a consistent product in the marketplace, without distinguishing characteristics that would encourage consumers to choose one of their bottles over another.  The only way you can really find out is to provide the bottling code to the company and ask them if they will decypher it for you.  Usually they will not.

You might try contacting the guys at antiquebottles.com  They are very nice people, and it's possible the that bottle will have more value than the liquid inside.  They're the ones who could tell you that.   

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

Paul Wagner