Expert: Paul Wagner - 5/13/2007

Question
My grandfather brought back a bottle of cognac from Europe in 1936. It is still sealed. It is, Godet Freres, Napoleon, Reverve Particuliere, De Tres Vieux Cognac. I would like to know if it is likely to still be good, and an approximate dollar value. Also, have you tasted the brand and, if so, did you enjoy it? Thank you for your assistance.

Answer
HI Jerry

Nope, I haven't tasted this one...How old do you think I am?  Grin.  

Distilled spirits (and Cognac is distilled from wine) don't change much once they are bottled. They age and soften in the barrel, but once in the bottle, the high alcohol content pretty much preserves them as they are.  The good news is that your cognac should be just as tasty as it was 70 years ago.   And from what I have read, it would have been a very good, if not great, cognac back then.  

But the bad news is that since the liquor inside doesn't change, cognacs don't increase in value with age.  I think you might get something between $50 and $100 for this one, depending on who might be bidding at auction.  But if it were me, I wouldn't sell it.  I would save it for a special occasion and open it up and enjoy it with family and friends.

Sorry to disappoint you...

Paul Wagner