Bell's whisky

Bell's
TypeScotch Whisky
ManufacturerDiageo
Country of origin Scotland
Introduced1851
Alcohol by volume 40%
Websitebells.co.uk
Bell's Scotch Whisky barrel at the Blair Athol distillery in Pitlochry, Perthshire

Bell's is a brand of blended Scotch whisky produced by Diageo in Scotland. It was originally produced by Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd and is one of the best selling whiskies in the UK, only slightly behind The Famous Grouse which is the best selling Scotch whisky on the island.[1]

History

The Bell's producer Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd was founded in 1798.[2]

In 1851, Arthur Bell (1825–1900) began to blend various single malts together to create a more consistent blended whisky.[3] Arthur Bell was the first known whisky manufacturer to appoint a London agent, by at least 1863.[4] Bell's two sons joined the business in partnership in 1895.[5] Arthur Kinmond (1868–1942) was appointed to manage the domestic market and Robert was appointed as head of the brand overseas.[4]

By the 1880s, the company was focused on blended whisky.[4] Arthur Bell died in 1900.[4] In 1921, the partnership became a private company run by Arthur Kinmond after Robert retired to live as a country gentleman. The end of Prohibition in America created a surge in demand, which led Arthur Bell & Sons to acquire two distilleries in 1933: Blair Athol and Dufftown.[5] In 1936, the Inchgower distillery was also acquired.[6]

The Bell brothers died in 1942 and the company accountant, William Govan Farquharson, became chairman of the company.[4] He focused on advertising the brand more heavily.[4] Bell's became a public company in 1949.[6] In 1954, Arthur Bell exported to 130 countries.[7]

By 1970, Bell's was the highest selling whisky in Scotland.[4] In the early 1970s, Bell's could not afford the advertising budget of the larger whisky distillers.[8] Instead, it focused on the use of mixers with its product.[8] This increased the product's popularity with women, and Bell's revenues rose by 800% between 1970 and 1979.[8] In 1978, Bell's became the UK's highest selling whisky.[5] Much of the credit for this expansion is given to the then managing director Raymond Miquel.[9]

By 1980, the company had around 35 percent market share in the UK.[9] Arthur Bell & Sons acquired Gleneagles Hotels in 1984.[10]

In 1985, the company was acquired by Guinness for $518 million.[11]

n 1987, Guinness.combined the businesses of Arthur Bell & Sons and Distillers Company forming United Distillers.[12]

In 1997, Guinness merged with Grand Metropolitan to create Diageo, the current owner of Arthur Bell & Sons.[13]

Production

Shieldhall bottling plant, Glasgow

Blair Athol is the main component of the blend.[14] Dufftown and Inchgower still figure, but Glenkinchie and Caol Ila are also components.[14]

The Pittyvaich distillery was used in the blend between 1974 and 1993.[15]

Bell's is bottled at Diageo's Shieldhall, Glasgow plant.

The product is 40% ABV in the UK, and 43% ABV in South Africa.[16]

Distilleries

Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd owned three whisky distilleries in Scotland:[14]

Markets

The brand's top markets are the UK, Portugal, Spain the Nordic countries, Brazil and South Africa.[17]

Advertising

A religious man, modesty prevented Arthur Bell from using his name on his whisky.[15] The Arthur Bell name was not attached to the product until 1904.[15]

A yellow floribunda rose was named after Arthur Bell in the early 1960s.[18] Bell's has used the "Afore ye go" slogan since 1925.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Leading whiskey brands ranked by on-trade sales value in the United Kingdom in 2022". statista.com. 8 October 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  2. ^ "Bell's Whisky – The Distillery". www.bells.co.uk. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  3. ^ Gavin D. Smith; Dominic Roskrow; Davin De Kergommeaux (2012). Whisky Opus. DK. p. 83. ISBN 978-1-4053-9474-1. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "Scotch Whisky : Most authoritative guide to Scotch whisky online – Scotch Whisky". scotchwhisky.com.
  5. ^ a b c d "Bell's Whisky – Home". www.bells.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  6. ^ a b Ronald B. Weir, ‘Bell, Arthur (1825–1900)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, Jan 2011 accessed 8 Jan 2014
  7. ^ "Bell's Whisky – Home". www.bells.co.uk.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ a b c James, Barrie G. (1985). Business Wargames. Taylor & Francis. p. 60. ISBN 978-0-85626-441-2.
  9. ^ a b Philip Hills (21 December 2012). Scots On Scotch: The Book of Whisky. Mainstream Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-78057-788-3.
  10. ^ David Parker (19 June 2013). The Official History of Privatisation, Vol. II: Popular Capitalism, 1987–97. Routledge. p. 438. ISBN 978-1-136-33123-7.
  11. ^ Feder, Barnaby J. (24 August 1985). "Bell's Stockholders Back Guinness Bid". The New York Times.
  12. ^ "The Guinness / Distillers Saga: The Aftermath". Scottish Whisky Magazine. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  13. ^ "DIAGEO SCOTLAND LIMITED overview – Find and update company information – GOV.UK".
  14. ^ a b c "Bell's Whisky – Home". www.bells.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 December 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  15. ^ a b c "Bells Whisky – one of Scotlands big brands". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  16. ^ "Bell's Whisky – Home". www.bells.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 October 2018. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  17. ^ Whisk(e)y Archived January 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Arthur Bell (Climbing) – Country Garden Roses". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.

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