Bell's whiskey: history, overview of taste and types + whether to buy
Bell's Scotch whisky is a budget drink. It is hardly appropriate to compare this scotch with classic single malt or premium blends of long aging.
However, in its price category, the product is popular and highly valued. The history of the Scottish brand goes back almost two centuries, during which the company has experienced ups and downs, but always stayed afloat.
The history of the whiskey brand Bells
The date of birth of the brand is generally considered to be 1825, when Arthur Bell, working in a small shop in Perth, Scotland, began selling tea and whiskey.
At that time, the potential founder of the company hardly thought about creating his own drink.
The first blend of scotch he prepared was only in the 1850s, and he called it "Arthur Bell" & The company received the name "Sons" at the end of the XIX century, when the merchant's sons joined the business.
The company was registered in 1897. A few decades later, the inscription "Afore ye go" appeared on the bottles of the branded drink, which became the company's slogan. The literal translation of the original phrase is "before you go". In a looser Russian interpretation, it turns into a "dorogka", and in a very loose one - a "pososhok"!".
Unlike other Scottish producers, the company survived the years of the American "dry law" without serious losses, and after its abolition, it acquired three additional distilleries at once, including the oldest, Blair Athol, founded in 1798.
Later, the company increased its capacity, modernized production, conducted active advertising campaigns, and developed new types of packaging, while maintaining the old recipe of the drinks.
Loyalty to traditions and classic taste is emphasized by the inscription "Original" on the bottles of scotch.
The company's inclusion in the United Distillers group has expanded its sales markets: today, Bells products are sold not only in Europe, but also in the USA, Spain, Brazil, South Africa.
Features of the production of whiskey Bells
The legendary producer's scotches include more than 30 spirits produced in different regions and distilleries of Scotland.
Each of the components gives the drink its own flavor accents:
Whisky from Lowland gives the product a softness.
Spirits from Speyside give honey sweetness, floral and fruity notes.
Islay provides a smoky peaty flavor and salty sea notes.
The permanent ingredient - golden whiskey "Blair Athol" from the Highlands - complements the bouquet with the aroma of toffee, nuts and spices.
Maturation in oak sherry barrels completes the process of creating the classic Bell's scotch.
By the way, the founder of the company was the first to venture into the use of aging for blended whiskeys, which had a positive impact on the taste of the drink.
Overview of the taste and types of Bells whiskey
The company annually launches new product lines, dedicating them to significant events and famous people.
However, the basic assortment remains unchanged and includes 3 variants of scotch:
Bell’s Original
Traditional scotch aged for three years and 40% strength.
The color of the drink is rich amber with golden spots.
Aroma: delicate, with fruity, almond, honey and floral hints.
Taste: smooth, fresh, balanced, with a light salty trail of peat smoke.
Dominant notes: spices, nuts, ginger, juicy apple. Can be drunk as a digestif or in cocktails.
Bell’s Spiced
A premium drink of five years of age. The strength is 35%.
The color of the scotch is intense amber with a transition to a mahogany hue.
The taste is characterized by sweetness, honey and ginger accents.
The aftertaste is soft, with notes of creamy toffee.
The aroma is light, fresh, with apple, vanilla and grassy-floral tones. Good as a digestif.
Bell’s Royal Reserve 20 Year Old
Scotch of bright honey color, aged for 20 years. Alcohol content - 40%.
The taste is rich with pronounced sweetness.
Dominant notes in the bouquet: ginger, honey, currant, chocolate.
The aroma is a little sharp, fresh, with a delicate smoky trail. Drink as a digestif.
Is it worth buying Bell's whiskey?
Despite the high popularity of the brand, not all consumers rate it positively. The drink is likely to disappoint true scotch connoisseurs.
This is an affordable blended version of whiskey that will appeal to undemanding tasters or beginners.
Among the reviews, there are both openly enthusiastic ("worthy whiskey", "time-tested", "excellent", "favorite whiskey") and disappointedly negative ("low-quality alcohol", "wild drink", "unpleasant aftertaste").
When buying Bells products, you should not expect much: after all, this is a budget segment drink.
If you want to try really high-quality whiskey, it is better to pay attention to products of a higher price category.
Update: 31.01.2019
Category: Whiskey and Bourbon