🥃 Bell's
Bell's is a Scotch blended whisky from Perth, named after Arthur Bell, who became a partner in 1851. Bell's Original has up to 40 whiskies with Blair Athol at the heart; 40% ABV; owned by Diageo.
Bell's is a brand of Scottish blended whisky from Perth, named after Arthur Bell. The main expression, Bell's Original, contains up to 40 malt and grain whiskies and is bottled at 40% ABV. The brand is now owned by Diageo, and the single malt Blair Athol is considered the heart of the blend.
History. According to Difford's Guide, in 1825 Thomas Sandeman opened a shop in Perth; Arthur Bell joined the business in the late 1830s and became a full partner in 1851. The blend under Bell's name went on sale in 1865, and his name first appeared on the label in 1904. Whiskypedia adds that in 1970 Bell's was Scotland's leading Scotch, and from 1978 the best-selling blended Scotch in Great Britain. Guinness bought the company in 1985, and from 1997 the owner is Diageo.
How it is made. The base of Bell's Original is a blend of up to 40 whiskies. Blair Athol gives the central flavour, while Dufftown from Speyside, Glenkinchie from the Lowlands and Caol Ila from Islay add their contribution. The whisky matures in oak casks, but the cask mix depends on the components.
Range. The 8-year age statement appeared on the label in 1994 and disappeared in 2008, when the whisky was renamed Bell's Original. In 2003 Special Reserve was added, a slightly smokier version sold only in the British market.
Why it matters to you. This is a blend, not a single malt. Older bottles may carry the 8-year mark, newer ones do not, so read the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1851 (Arthur Bell, Perth); name on the label from 1904 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Blended Scotch Whisky) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | up to 40 malt and grain whiskies; Blair Athol, Dufftown, Glenkinchie, Caol Ila |
| Cask type | oak casks; the exact cask mix is not specified in our sources |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years in oak by law; Original has no age statement |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Diageo
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🥃 Whisky, 🥃 Blended Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Scotch Whisky
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Johnnie Walker, 🥃 Chivas Regal, 🥃 100 Pipers, 🥃 100 Pipers, 🥃 Black Dog, 🥃 Black Dog, 🥃 Clynelish, 🥃 Clynelish, 🥃 Blair Athol, 🥃 Dufftown Distillery
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Bell's, and how many whiskies are in the blend?
Diageo, which has run the company since 1997. Bell's Original contains up to 40 malt and grain whiskies, with Blair Athol at the heart.
What ABV is Bell's Original?
40% ABV, according to Difford's Guide.
Why did the 8-year mark disappear from Bell's bottles?
It appeared in 1994 and was dropped in 2008, when the whisky was renamed Bell's Original. Older bottles may still carry it.
Can I buy Bell's Special Reserve outside Great Britain?
It was launched in 2003 as a slightly smokier version and is sold only on the British market.
How is Bell's usually served?
Neat, with ice or in tall mixed drinks; a tumbler or a tall glass will do.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky — Scotch from a single distillery: only malted barley, water and yeast, distilled in pot stills; at least 3 years in oak, 40% ABV (80 proof in the US) or more. Not the same as single cask.
- 🧪 Water — ~87% of milk.
Similar
🥃 Black & White · 🥃 Vat 69 · 🥃 Dufftown Distillery · 🥃 Benrinnes · 🥃 Haig · 🥃 Teaninich
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: definition and categories of Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- Scotchwhisky.com (Whiskypedia): Bell's (Arthur Bell, Perth, 1851; up to 40 whiskies; Blair Athol heart malt; 8-year statement 1994-2008; Special Reserve 2003; Diageo)
- Difford's Guide: Bell's Original Blended Scotch Whisky (40 %, up to 40 whiskies, no age statement, Perth shop 1825, name on label 1904, Diageo)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)