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Bell's
Type	Scotch Whisky
Manufacturer	Diageo
Country of origin	Scotland
Introduced	1851
Alcohol by volume	40%
Website	bells.co.uk

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

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]