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View Full Version : Bell's Royal Reserve - 1950's?


Martyy
10-07-2011, 08:25 PM
JoJo,
I've been reading all of the generous assistance you and some experts offer to people on your website who are unfamiliar with the craft and/or novices, and that would definitely include me.
My Father's sister passed away in the 80's and left him with a bunch of decorative decanters of different whiskeys & bourbons.
The only one of real interest and/or value would appear to the bottle of Bell's.
None of us in the family are drinkers to speak of and no one drinks scotch, whiskey, or bourbon so if this bottle is of value i will sell it and split the proceeds with my Dad.
I've done some research on line and also checked out Ebay...both the USA & UK versions.
This bottle appears to be most likely from the 1950's....BUT with my limited knowledge, it might also be 40's or 60's.....i've seen a couple of pics of Royal Reserve bottles from the 30's and this is NOT that old.
Could you help me find an approximate date for blending/bottling?
The bottle is unopened but much of the tax stamp is gone....there remain only small pieces on both sides and the top.
The bottom of the bottle appears to have "S631" on the upper part and "UG8" on the bottom.
I have taken pictures of all sides and what's left of the tax stamps and will gladly try to post them...if i can figure it out.
thank you in advance for your help.

Marty

Martyy
10-11-2011, 04:34 PM
here are 4 pictures if anyone can help me with the age of this Bell's

Martyy
10-11-2011, 04:38 PM
and here are 3 more pictures

Martyy
10-11-2011, 04:41 PM
here are 2 pics of the bottom of the bottle....please read my description as the raised letters/numbers are very hard to make out

Martyy
10-19-2011, 05:08 PM
anyone?
nothing?
no one knows enough about old Bell's to help with the age?

Bueller?

Jojo
10-20-2011, 04:51 AM
anyone
?
nothing?
no one knows enough about old Bell's to help with the age?

Bueller?
We will have Sloan take a look : )

Martyy
10-20-2011, 07:58 PM
thank you Jojo...your help is much appreciated.

Jojo
10-25-2011, 04:31 PM
Martyy,

We found out from Arthur Bell & Sons parent company (Diageo) that they cannot use the serial numbers and codes on your bottle to find an exact date of production because the records that these numbers would have related to are no longer retained by the company. However, from looking at the images that you posted, they feel your bottle dates from the late 1950s. The crest that appears on the label was registered as the company Coat of Arms of Arthur Bell & Sons Ltd. in 1945, to celebrate the victory in Europe, which many Bell’s employees fought in, so it will definitely date from after that time. Other aspects of the label lead Diageo's Archive Department to believe that it’s most likely to date from c1955-1960.

Martyy
10-25-2011, 08:05 PM
thank you very much for your time and your efforts Jojo, i really appreciate what you did for me.
Alia also sent me an email.....thank you for that as well.
this was kind of exciting and a very cool learning experience for me.
best wishes to you in all your efforts

Marty

Jojo
10-26-2011, 03:44 PM
thank you very much for your time and your efforts Jojo, i really appreciate what you did for me.
Alia also sent me an email.....thank you for that as well.
this was kind of exciting and a very cool learning experience for me.
best wishes to you in all your efforts

Marty

Happy to help! Thanks for your appreciation and kind words ;)