Expert: Paul Wagner - 11/30/2006

Question
While packing for a recent move I found an unopenned bottle of Chivas Regal (12 year blend) that was given to me back in the early eighties.  I figure the whiskey must be pushing 40 years old now.  A couple of questions, is it still drinkable, is their any markings on the bottle or decanter sleeve that gives its bottleing date, does it have value beyond just being a bottle of good Scotch (ie. as a collectable or perhaps to a Scotch connoisseur)

Answer
HI Chris:

Your questions are right on the money!  Yes--it is still drinkable.  The alcohol in distilled spirits makes them pretty impervious to aging.  They don't change much at all, once they are in the bottle, as long as you keep them in a reasonably cool place.  And no, it doesn't really have any value to a connoisseur, for exactly those same reasons.  Great wines develop additional character in the bottle, great whiskeys only do that in the cask, before they are bottled.

So the good news is that you have a nice bottle of Chivas.  The bad news is that it isn't really worth more than a new bottle of the same thing.  But it should be in great shape!

Paul Wagner