Expert: Paul Wagner - 7/4/2007

Question
QUESTION: Hello Paul,  We have an unopened, still in the box, bottle of Chivas Regal that was purchased in 1965.  
I am wondering if this an item that has increased in value over time? Can you tell me what it might be worth now, and how a person would go about selling it?  Thank you for your help.  Elizabeth


ANSWER: Hi Elizabeth

Because distilled spirits are very high in alcohol, they don't really change over time.  That means that your bottle should taste just about the way it did when it was bottled in 1965.  The good news is that you can drink without worry.  The bad news is that it hasn't improved, either...and hasn't increased much in value.  You might get someone to pay $100 for this bottle, but more likely as a bottle collector than as a connoisseur of fine drinks. It is actuall illegal for private individuals to sell liquor in the USA--but ebay allows you to do it if you stipulate that you are selling the bottle only, and the liquid is not for consumption.

Sorry I don't have better news for you--I would save this one for a special occasion and open it with friends and family.

Paul Wagner

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Paul,, I am Liz's Brother, and the owner of the Chivas Regal, and if you can help me verify-via these numbers, on the box & Bottle, that will be great for now. I just need other proof,in print that the bottle was purchased, on or near the date, I seem to remember-1965.. There is even some numbers, imprinted in the bottom of the glass, bottle, that one would think, would, have the makers date, incoded therin.. On box--# 6500113   On Red Government seal-over the cap # 020030154  2nd # I-549. In the glass bottom # SC968..Paul due to my present age, I could be incorrect of exact purchase date, either way, I sure would appreciate, even an e-mail, refering to what you think, or come back with some means of verifacation.. Thank u very much, from an Old marine who used to drink the best of Scotch.... Rex Ott..

Answer
Hi Rex

Nice to hear from another member of the family!  These numbers are all in code...most bottlers don't want consumers jumping to the conclusion that one lot is better than the next, so they always try to make these a bit confusing for everyone.  There are lots of systems to do this, and you would have to contact Chivas to see if they even remember the system they were using back then.

But what you have written leads me to think that you are correct in thinking that you would have bought this in the 1960's.  The box is the best clue, because it fits a very common system---the year, followed by the date in a Julian calendar.  In other words, the box was printed on the 113th date of 1965--which is late April.  Give a few months for the box to get to the distiller, and the distilled to get the product out, and you have something that would have been in the market by the holidays of 1965.

Does that make sense?

Paul Wagner