Expert: Paul Wagner - 8/14/2011

Question
My daughter found a little bottle of Terry Brandy. Its dated 188? The label is missing parts of it. It has Fernando A. De Terry Brandy on it. It says a product of Spain. Permit I-24 Eriones & Co. 85 Pearl St., New ? What can you tell me about this? It has a metal cap on it that has never been opened and its stamped Terry on top.

Answer
Hi Sharon

The date from the 1880's is when the distillery was founded...it is not when your brandy was made.  But then, brandy is never vintage dated, because it is always a blend.  And it is almost never datd in any way because the alcohol level is so high that this never changes much over time in the bottle.  For better or for worse, it's pretty much the same as when it was bottled.  This is a big difference between distilled liquors and wine.  

Your bottle is worth about what a current bottling of Terry's would sell for -- and that might be around $25 for a 750ml/

I am sorry that I can't give you more exciting news.

Paul Wagner