Expert: Paul Wagner - 12/20/2006

Question
Hi Paul, My Mom had a bottle of whiskey given to her back about 10 years or so.  its a bottle of seagrams v o canadian whiskey.  it is unopened, the date on the strip over the cap says 1965, and there are two numbers one on each side of the cap label.  the numbers are 408229477, which says the US internal revenue, and the other is C4257952 1965.  she would like to know if there is a value for this bottle, is the whiskey drinkable or sellable leagally, please help.  i think we should open it haha.....well, nevermind that, lol.  Thanks for the time!!

Answer
Hi Sheri:

OK.  Yes, this is perfectly drinkable.  Distilled spirits don't age in the bottle, the alcohol level is too high.  So they don't actually appreciate much in value, but they also always taste pretty good.  The value of this bottle is probably about $50...but it is not legal for you to sell it, as a private party.  

On the other hand, it still tastes fine.  Why not pick a special occasion this holiday season, and toast the history of this bottle with some good friends?

So yes--I think you are right.  Open it and enjoy it.