Expert: Paul Wagner - 8/27/2007

Question
I have a bottle of Fernando A. de Terry Brandy - Puerto Sta Maria. Under the name of the brand it says "Destilado de los mejores Vinos de Jerez". On the label there are two dates, 1901 and 1904. The bottle is 1/2 a litre, it has a lead cap and cork, with a paper band over it. The paper band has a number on it of "E59215213". The bottle is made of green glass.
Pictures of the bottle can be seen here:
http://i12.tinypic.com/5yirpg2.jpg - front of the bottle
http://i13.tinypic.com/6gy71hg.jpg - back of the bottle
http://i12.tinypic.com/52681hs.jpg - the label

Do you have any information on this brandy, such as where exactly it comes from, how old it would be and if it would be worth anything?

Any help and information would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks!

Answer
Hi Lauren

Terry is a reputable maker of Sherry and Brandy in Jerez, and one of the primary products is this "Centenario" brandy.  Your bottle appears to be about 35-50 years old (The 1901/1904 dates refer important awards and milestones in the history of the ocmpany, not the vintage or bottling date of the brandy).

HEre is some info from the Beam Estates website--their parent company.  "Centenario is the best-selling brandy in Spain with annual sales of more than 700,000 cases. Three years of aging inAmerican oak gives this Spanish classic its warm amber color and hint of sherry flavor. Centenario even hasinternational connections. For example, Bodegas Terry was founded in the 1850s by the Terry family from Southern Ireland. Centenario means “centenary,” and it evokes the change to the twentieth century when the Terry family started producing brandys in its bodegas in Puerto de Santa María."

Since distilled spirits do not change, deteriorate, or improve with age ( the alcohol level is too high) this bottle should be fine to drink.  The value might be something like $50-75, since the current bottling sell for about $35--but a bottle collector might pay more.  A brandy lover would know that this is basically unchanged, and so not worth a great deal more than it was when it was first sold.

Paul Wagner