Divers Saved 900 Bottles Of 100-Year-Old Booze Possibly Meant For The Last Russian Czar
In more history news, a Swedish dive team recovered 900 bottles of century-old cognac and liqueur from the bottom of the Baltic Sea, where the ship S.S. Kyros was sunk by a German U-boat in 1917.
During the 250-foot dive, researchers found 50 cases of cognac brandy and 15 cases of Benedictine herbal liqueur. They believe the stock was intended for Russian aristocracy — perhaps even for the czar himself.
“This was the last shipment for Russia, and for the czar,” said Ocean X Founder Peter Lindberg, who led the expedition. Though water pressure pushed some of the corks into the bottles and some sediment found its way inside, for the most part the booze was in good condition, thanks to the cold environment at the bottom of the Baltic Sea.
Divers also found parts of a German Luger pistol and a bullet. The finds suggested the Kyros may have also been transporting war supplies, which is why it was shot down by German forces in the fist place. “If it’s more than one, then it’s smuggling because it’s not on the cargo manifest,” an Ocean X member said.
The bottles aren’t just historical artifacts; salvaging them can be quite a lucrative business. Since the shipwreck and its cargo were found in international waters, international maritime rules of salvage apply, which means anyone who finds anything in those waters is legally allowed to keep whatever they want.
The value of the haul? Potentially millions of dollars — all for a heap of hold liquor bottles.
