TSAR’S BOOZE RECOVERED

A shipment of exotic French cognac and liqueur destined for Tsar Nicolas II’s palace in Russia’s St Petersburg has been recovered from a shipwreck in the Sea of Bothnia – more than a century after it was dispatched.

The shipment – believed to be last ordered by the Tsar before his assassination in July 1918 – never made it to Russia. It was loaded on to the SS Kyros in December 1916. The ship’s route was via neutral Sweden, but because of heavy ice departure was delayed until May 1917.

Unfortunately, the ship was intercepted by the German submarine UC58. Her captain decided to sink her because the cargo was considered contraband. The SS Kyros crew was transferred to a nearby ship and later all returned safely to Sweden.

The wreck – in 77m – was first discovered back in 1999 but had to be cleared from fishing nets to allow divers and ROVs to gain access.

Finally – in October 2019 – the Swedish salvage vessel Deepsea Worker was able to retrieve the stash of alcohol – 50 cases of De Haartman & Co cognac and 15 cases of Bénédictine liqueur (the brand’s now owned by Bacardi). It is not known whether the stuff is still drinkable. The Bénédictine brand was created more than 500 years ago by French monks.