Expert: Paul Wagner - 2/10/2004

Question
I have a liquor that I am looking to sell, but have no idea about it. It is from circa 1958, the maker was "Benedictine", apparently, it's titled "D.O.M.", with a cross under it, and "Le directeur A.L. [initials]"  has a signature on one of the labels. Has some verifying marks/inscriptions, I cannot find the year, but it might be on top of the cap, which I find illegible, it seems to be some sort of a serial number/letters, or just a combination of letters that have no meaning to me. The cap is red,a dn also has an imprint of a person (woman?) holding a staff that ends in a spiral. I know it's from about 1958 because I found it in a collection of other alcohols from that time. Part of the stamp is missing.
One of the labels lists (in French) the marks and incriptions that should be present on the bottle.  

Answer
Dear Kate:

The good news is that this liqueur is quite lovely--and you should find it delicious, even after so many years.  The bad news is that because it is quite high in alcohol means that it doesn't really get better with age, it just stays the same.  Sadly, this bottle won't have a great deal more value than a current bottle of Benedictine.  

Find a nice occasion and open it.  And once opened, it will stay good for years.

Paul Wagner