I have two bottles of Cognac, Grande Fine Champagne, 1811 Reserve, Imperatrice Josephine. Both bottle show leakage. First bottle is unopened and half way down the bottle. The second bottle has lost about a inch from its' top. Bottled in France 11/4/1934, distilled in 1811. Is there any hope that these bottle might still be drinkable, and do they have any value?
Answer From Expert Roger Bohmrich MW
Potentially, your bottles of Cognac could be of real interest to collectors, but the value hinges on numerous factors. There is, first, the issue of authenticity: Are these two bottles genuine or counterfeit? There are bottles matching your description which are being offered for sale, or are the subject of discussion. For example, in 2010, Christie's, the celebrated auction house, estimated what seems to have been this same Cognac (Sale 2384, Lot 164) at between USD 3,000 to 5,000, indicating the hammer price was in fact USD 7,200. They no doubt subjected the bottle to rigorous examination by in-house experts to verify its authenticity. There are, however, some other remarks from Cognac authorities raising some doubts, not specifically about the bottle sold by Christie's but about this Cognac generally. It does seem somewhat curious that numerous bottles of what should be a rare item have appeared in different parts of the world. Assuming it's the genuine article, the bottle that is half full will no doubt have far less value than the one with the high fill. The condition of labeling and damage from leakage could also affect sale ability. You may want to contact a serious auction house to make a final determination. It is very likely the Cognac - if real and genuine - would be drinkable, and I would be very interested myself in learning your reaction, if you choose to open the bottle with the short fill.
