A look at the world's most expensive Cognac

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World most expensive cognac

Hillary Vaughn finds out why one collector is holding on to one bottle with an incredible story

A staple for the world's rich and famous, Cognac is known for its rarity as much as for its hefty price tags.

But it still may be a shocker that world's most expensive bottle of cognac goes for $156,760. It's an 1858 Cuvee Léonie and it's the only bottle for sale in the U.S.

Cuvée Léonie, took the record with the Guinness Book of World Records when a bottle sold at auction in September 2011, officially making the it the world's most expensive Cognac. The cognac was bottled in France centuries ago, before the Great French Wine Blight wiped out many vineyards.

Owner Lee Tachman, who deals in rare spirits, said the bottle is legendary among cognac connoisseurs. "One of these bottles is said to be opened by Eisenhower...while he was planning the D-day invasion. They took one out of France, smuggled it, and they opened one."

Sold in its original packaging, the bottle is remarkably humble --especially compared to the ostentatious vessels of today, and sports dust from where it was stored for centuries.

"They didn't do anything to the bottle. They left it dirty," Tachmans said.  "It's been sitting in France since 1858….it's very original I love it."

Tachman is a trader on Wall Street in New York City during the day who invests and sells rare liquor on the side at his liquor shop, Financial District Wine and Liquor.

"Luckily I was one of the first guys that got into it. So I got some of the rare, rare bottles that no one else has."

The shop has a sought after trio of Van Winkle Bourbon from the 90's - before it was famous.

"No one had even heard of Pappy Van Winkle before they were just like 'Oh, its just a regular bourbon.' And no one knew how special it really was," says Tachman.

The Van Winkle trio can be yours for $75,000 - but Tachman says taste is worth the hype. "It really is delicious. Everyone who tries it, its not like 'Oh it's overrated' No one ever says that."

The crème de le crème of the bunch is a quartet of Lenell's Red Hook Rye Whiskey. Tachman says the bunch is considered to be the best rye ever made. Lenell's Red Hook Rye is as rare as they come said Tachman, "These all sold out and they're gone and most of them are opened. And you can not find these anywhere, you can not find them."

The rare rye was handpicked from the most exclusive Willet Rye barrels in Kentucky and are $176,000 for the four. Tachman says the purchase is a good investment. "Whoever gets theses…they're only going to go up in value."

Tachman says each bottle carries an incredible story, worth telling and worth tasting --that is if you have the money.

To purchase any of these rare items visit http://fidiwine.com.