Expert: Paul Wagner - 3/23/2007

Question
Hi,
A friend of mine recently inherited a bottle of what she believes to be 100 year old scotch.  She can't find a date on the bottle but does have a serial code.  The item is Seagram's 100 pipers scotch whisky and is on a swing so that it can just be tipped and poured.  The serial number is 390111907.  The last 4 numbers are why she thinks its 100 years old.  Can you be of any help?


Answer
Hi Sandra

I am sorry, but Seagram didn't really even exist as a company in 1907.  Generally, those serial numbers are in a kind of code.  I don't know what Seagram uses, but they never use normal dates...it's always the Julian calendar:  the 111th day of '99, for example.  And the other numbers are lot numbers, product ID codes, etc.

My guess is that your friend's bottle is about 25 years old.  ANd since distilled spirits don't really improve in the bottle (the alcohol level is too high) it is just as good as it was when it was bottled, and not any better, either.  It doesn't have much value for a collector.  

I'd pick a nice occasion and open it with a few good friends. It is quite tasty.

Paul Wagner