Bells Whiskyjug 2 Waterjug

Two drops of water can change a whisky more than ten minutes in the glass will. That is the entire reason the jug sits on the table at all, and why its spout is narrow enough to be almost annoying.

Please note: This is a used vintage jug, so it may show wear from its years in service. Every example is its own.

The expert's description

Bell's Water Jug 2 is a vintage water jug in Bell's livery, made for use behind the bar.

The narrow spout is not a design flaw. The jug is built to release water in small measures so the guest can control how much goes into the glass and the bartender avoids pouring too much too fast.

Jugs like this were supplied to pubs by the whisky houses as part of their marketing. Bell's was the best selling blend in Britain for decades, and the bar ware followed into thousands of bars across the country.

Specifications

Name: Bell's Water Jug 2
Distillery: Bell's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Water jug
Edition: Vintage

Did you know?

Scottish distilleries themselves use spring water at room temperature when tasting professionally, and they usually dilute to around 20 per cent. That is far more water than most people add at home.

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Frequently asked questions about Bell's water jug 2

How much water should you add?

Start with two drops and taste. Above 50 % the whisky takes more, and you can go up to a teaspoon without trouble. There is no correct answer, only your own nose.

Should the water be cold?

No, preferably not. Cold water shuts the aromatics down the way ice cubes do. Use water at room temperature, ideally spring water or filtered water without a chlorine edge.

Does adding water ruin the whisky?

No. It changes it. Most distilleries taste their own whisky diluted, precisely because the alcohol otherwise dominates the nose. Try it neat and with water in the same whisky glass and you will hear the difference.

Can the jug be used for anything but water?

In principle it can hold anything, but it is made for water and has no stopper. If the whisky itself is to stand out on the table, it belongs in a whisky decanter with a tight fitting stopper.

How do you clean an old jug?

Hand wash in lukewarm water without an abrasive sponge. Avoid the dishwasher, since the decoration on old jugs can suffer from the heat and the strong detergents.

Why does it show wear?

Because it has been used. The jug stood on a bar counter and was filled, emptied and washed for years, and those marks are part of what you are buying.