Battle of Trafalgar Cognac on sale for £148k

Brandyclassics is selling the last bottle of Massougnes 1805 Cognac made during the Battle of Trafalgar for £148,320 (US$231,220), said to be the “most expensive” bottle in the world.

Massougnes 1805 Cognac is the last remaining bottle made during the Battle of Trafalgar (photo: Brandyclassics.com)

The firm has owned the three-quarter-gallon bottle of Massougnes 1805 Cognac for 15 years but has now decided to sell what it claims is the “most expensive bottle of Cognac in the world”.

Massougnes 1805 is described as having a “light hazel nut flavour” combined with straw and grassy notes, as well as herbaceous and wood tones.

Brandyclassics is also selling Massougnes 1801 Cognac for £141,120.

“We work quite a lot with luxury hotels and in our experience most of these Cognacs are sold to customers who would seek to consume them rather than keep them,” David Baker, managing director of Brandyclassics, told CNBC.

“In the UK we have sold Cognacs of this nature to luxury hotels who would serve them to their customers for up to £6,000 per measure.

“We know of one case where a customer purchased, during the course of an evening, more than one bottle and his bar bill came to more than £86,000.

“There are many people who seek total exclusivity when they buy drinks and this is one way such exclusivity can be bought.”