Type | Scotch Whisky |
---|---|
Manufacturer | Diageo |
Country of origin | Scotland |
Introduced | 1851 |
Alcohol by volume | 40% |
Website | bells |
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]
The Bells distillery 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, and subsequently absorbed into Diageo. [11]
Blair Athol is the main component of the blend. [12] Dufftown and Inchgower still figure, but Glenkinchie and Caol Ila are also components. [12]
The Pittyvaich distillery was used in the blend between 1974 and 1993. [13]
Bell's is bottled at Diageo's Shieldhall, Glasgow plant.
The product is 40% ABV in the UK, and 43% ABV in South Africa. [14]
The brand's top markets are the UK, Portugal, Spain the Nordic countries, Brazil and South Africa. [15]
A religious man, modesty prevented Arthur Bell from using his name on his whisky. [13] The Arthur Bell name was not attached to the product until 1904. [13]
A yellow floribunda rose was named after Arthur Bell in the early 1960s. [16] Bell's has used the "Afore ye go" slogan since 1925. [5]
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