Oldest Cognac secures Guinness World Record

Cognac Gautier 1762 has been officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the oldest Cognac sold at a public auction.

Cognac Gautier 1762 has been officially recognised as the world’s oldest Cognac to be sold at a public auction

This 250-year-old drink was purchased in 2014 by Wealth Solutions, a Polish company specialising in rare spirits and collectibles, at at Bonhams’ Whisky, Cognac and Rare Spirits auction in New York.

The Cognac, which was bottled in 1840 and features an original handwritten label, remained part of the company’s collection until October 2015, when it was opened during a ceremony in Warsaw to mark the partnership between Wealth Solutions and Armin Strom, a Swiss watchmaker.

The companies collaborated to create the Cognac Watch – the first Swiss mechanical watch to contain alcohol.

The droplets are contained in a sealed sapphire crystal disc positioned at 5 o’clock, while on the back of the watch face is a hand-engraved design of a bunch of grapes.

The timepiece and the capsule for this unique spirit were designed by Claude Greisler, Armin Strom’s chief horologist.

Just 40 timepieces were produced in stainless steel, 18k rose gold and titanium cases, and all of them were sold by Wealth Solutions in an exclusive presale before the official launch of the product.

Wealth Solutions is set to continue production of the Spirit Watches line, and has announced that the next release will be the Rum Watch – a Swiss timepiece with a drop of Harewood rum from 1780.