Four Records for Four Spirits
The bottles below are undoubtedly the centerpieces of his personal collection. They are considered the oldest bottles of spirits in the world, according to Guinness World Records, a London-based institution that publishes the annual bible of global achievements. But for M. Viet, they represent much more than records… “These spirits tell four human stories etched in the liquid. When I stand before them, I don’t just see spirits; I see time, humanity, and the memories of centuries that have slept peacefully, never to disappear.” Each, in its own way, invites you to enter another world…
Jules Robin Cognac from 1696, recognized to this day as the oldest bottle of Cognac ever (re)discovered. “This Cognac is like a sealed letter from the 17th century. Three hundred years have passed, and yet its amber hue still holds the breath of old France: elegant, contemplative, and imbued with the expertise of the artisans who shaped the history of Cognac.”
From its (honorary) position as the oldest bottle of whisky in the world, Glenlivet 1843 “evokes a fragment of ancient Scotland” for Mr. Viet, “where fog and peat once enveloped the first aging casks.” More than 180 years later, this bottle still bears witness to the beginnings of modern whisky.
Just a few days ago, the record was still held by a 195-year-old bottle of Armagnac, a Château du Bourdieu 1830, but at the time of publication… that record has fallen. On December 17, 2025, the Château du Bourdieu has been surpassed by a Grand Cocardas Armagnac from… 1800! This discovery marks Nguyen Dinh Tuan Viet’s 21st Guinness World Record.
And finally, the oldest rum, older than the Harewood 1780, the Ancienne rum from 1772.
“Over 250 years old, this bottle holds a story bordering on legend. Once kept in the cellar of Raphaël Bienvenu Sabatier, an eminent French surgeon, it has survived wars, upheavals, and countless generations, and remains sealed as if time itself had chosen to protect it.” Its existence is in itself a small miracle, a fragment of history that we will tell you about in a next article.
And among all these concentrated pieces of history, is there one truly memorable tasting, a moment now etched in his memory?
“Definitely tasting a Louis XIII over 140 years old! A rare moment where I felt as if I were touching history itself. Every aroma, every drop of alcohol seemed to tell the story of the countless hands that shaped and preserved it for generations. I felt as if I were between two eras, listening to the discreet pulse of a bygone past.”
And among his memorable experiences, let’s also mention tasting an 85-year-old Macallan : “This encounter confirmed for me once again that tasting old spirits is not simply a matter of taste. It’s a dialogue with time, an encounter with the souls that have left their mark over the centuries, and a moment where eternity is felt in a single sip.”
Seeing his collection more as a “living archive” of time passing, where history isn’t confined to books, M. Viet nurtures an ambitious vision: to create a unique, world-renowned museum dedicated to exceptional spirits in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City :
“It will be a place where visitors can experience history firsthand; where bottles aren’t simply displayed under glass, but tell their own stories; where time becomes an experience rather than a concept. I hope this museum will serve as a bridge between past and present, preserving my family’s legacy while becoming a shared memory for the community of those who love spirits, art, and ancestral values.”
CRE: https://www.rowspirits.fr/en/reportages/3467-the-record-breaking-man.html?