Hi Tom,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

Bombay is a brand owned by the spirits company Bacardi Limited. It’s not the name of a distillery but a brand identity focused on high-quality, botanically rich gin, though as you point out, they make other spirits (vermouth being a fortified, aromatized wine). The name “Bombay” was chosen to evoke the historical birthplace and evolution of London Dry gin — namely the connection between British gin production and botanicals sourced in India (then British India), particularly spices and citrus used in classic gin recipes.

Unlike whisky or wine, vermouth is not a standalone spirit aged for decades. It's usually isn’t cellared for long aging — so really old sealed bottles are rare; additionally, it often deteriorates over time (oxidation), reducing drinkability and collector appeal.

Because of this, vintage bottles of vermouth seldom reaches high auction prices compared with rare whiskies, fine wines, or pre-prohibition spirits — even older bottles.

You have a very rare bottle and while I've not found any exact comparable auction results, a few other auction results give me a sense of where this would *probably* sell at auction:
- antique bottles of pre-1970s Carpano Antica Formula regularly sell for between $75-175 depending on condition and clarity of the label, with a pre WWII example selling for $250 at a specialist auction
- a magnum of 1980s Martini Rosso sold for $130 (rare for size, not maker)
- Pre WWII Dom Benedictine quinquinas (vermouth-style) usually bring $200-$500
- Pre-prohibition American Vermouth bottles are exceptionally rare can bring $500-800.

If this were presented for sale in a dedicated spirits auction, it would probably have an estimate of $400-700 but could sell for more. If you're listing this for sale, you might start higher than that in case you have to come down in price...

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage 750 ml Bottle of Bombay Vermouth
Bottled for Ollie Hammonds, early 1970s
CONDITION: This bottle appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Gift
$400-700*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia