Expert: Paul Wagner - 5/28/2006

Question
Hi Paul,

We have an unopened bottle of an old type of liqueur called Creme Yvette. From doing a little online research, I've found out that it's a liqueur made from Parma violets that was produced by the Sheffield Company, later manufactured by Charles Jacquin et Cie in the United States, and that it hasn't been made for a while.

The label on the bottle is not in great shape, although it is very readable.  There's also some type of additional label pasted on the front that looks like some type of inventory or tax label, it lists an inventory number, a district number, proof, and the phrase "inventoried under the War Revenue Act of 1918".

I'd like to find out when production of Creme Yvette stopped. Also, is this liqueur still likely to be drinkable? It's at least 40 years old, and as far as I know has been kept in dry cellar conditions, but was also stored upright. The seal is mostly intact, with a little recent flaking off of the waxy cover so that the top of the cork is exposed. We are currently storing it on its side.

Also, one other question--if the liqueur is still likely to be drinkable, would this be of any value to collectors?

Thanks in advance for any information you can supply!  --Laurey

Answer
HI Laurey:

I am not sure I have all the answers you want, but here goes;

1.  I don't know when production stopped. Charles Jacquin et Cie is based in Philadelphia, and you might be able to check with them directly.  But the last news story I could find on them was in March of this year...when they announced that they were selling their biggest and best brand, Chambord, to Brown-Forman.  I don't know if that finished the company or not.

2.  The alcohol level on most liqueurs is about 80 proof--which is enough alcohol to protect it from just about any pathogen.  So it is probably quite safe to drink.  At the same time, the high alcohol also prevents liqueurs from developing in the bottle...which means that olders ones don't really taste different from younger ones.  

3.  the bottle was probably designed to be stored upright, rather than on its side.  It probably doesn't have a very long cork, so it would be prone to leaking.  I would store it upright--at least at this point.

4.  As for the value---the only thing I can suggest is placing it on ebay to find out.  This is such a rarity, and the age is unknown, that it is really hard to put a value on it.  You might also contact Sothebys, the auction house, because they sometimes auction off rare cellars.

5.  The tax strip may in fact signify that it was somehow inventoried during Prohibition, which would make it more valuable to a collector.

I wish I could tell you more...but you reached the bottom of the barrel on this one!

Paul Wagner