Did he counterfeit the bottle of Napoleon’s Brandy? Is his new venture into Brandy de Jerez just a publicity stunt, or does he truly have a goal in mind? Will he succeed in creating the perfect Brandy, or is it already represented under the Cardenal Mendoza label? These are some of the questions everyone asks when they hear this story, and together with you, we’ll try to answer them. Ready? Here we go.
Rudy’s Puzzle
Being Rodolfo Romero became increasingly complicated as his vision of the perfect brandy turned into an obsession for him. Pursuing that goal led him to develop two sides of himself: That of the stranger who arrived determined to revolutionize the world of brandy, surprising everyone with his knowledge and ideas, and that of the potential counterfeiter who swindled several thousand euros through the sale of a bottle of brandy that supposedly belonged to Napoleon.
For himself, ‘the end justified the means,’ and that is something he made clear through his actions.
Everyone agrees that counterfeiting a bottle of brandy is easy—you buy some good-quality “holandas” and set up a solera and criadera system in a space with optimal climatic conditions for production. However, there is one thing that cannot be bought, acquired, or appropriated: time.
The time a brandy spends resting and aging in American oak barrels is something that cannot be faked in any way. And perhaps that was Rudy’s ace in the hole when he considered counterfeiting the bottle.
After all, who would uncork a 212-year-old bottle of brandy just to verify that its contents are authentic?
It was enough to create a “showcase” realistic enough for everyone to assume that both the bottle and its contents were authentic.
Adapt and you will succeed
Some say that Rodolfo Romero was called “The Chameleon of Brandy” for his ability to change his personality and appear to be completely different people depending on what the situation required.
For many, this is a clear clue that points to the fact that he is actually a counterfeiter.
On the one hand, a person who does not show themselves as they truly are is someone who fears that their true nature will be discovered. And on the other hand, if they were capable of doing that to themselves, it is possible that they were also capable of doing so with products they sought to sell for a price higher than their actual value. The cost of counterfeiting a 212-year-old bottle of brandy is insignificant compared to the price that might be paid for it at auction.
Guilty or Innocent
Rudy’s case has not yet been officially resolved; however, we ask ourselves a question:
Why would it go into exile if the bottle was genuine?
Without a doubt, the story of Rodolfo Romero is one of the most complex and enigmatic in the world of brandy, and with every passing minute, the line between reality and legend grows ever thinner.
Will we ever know the truth? We don’t know. But what we do know is that that 212-year-old bottle of brandy that belonged to Napoleon shines under the Cardenal Mendoza label. And that is something we are very proud of.
