Bells Whiskyjug 5 Waterjug

There is something honest about an object that was never meant as decoration. The jug was made to be grabbed with wet hands, filled in a hurry and put down hard again. It survived anyway.

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

The shape is practical before it is pretty. A wide base so it does not tip, a solid handle so it can be caught one-handed, and a spout that doses rather than pours. All of it demanded by a workplace rather than by a designer.

Bell's supplied bar ware of this kind to pubs across Britain during the years when the house was the biggest blend in the country. The jugs came with the orders and stayed on long after the bottles were emptied.

Specifications

Name: Bell's Water Jug 5
Distillery: Bell's
Region/Country: Scotland
Type: Water jug
Edition: Vintage

Did you know?

The water jug is one of the few objects in the bar world that has barely changed shape in a hundred years. The form solves the task, so nobody has found a reason to redo it.

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Frequently asked questions about Bell's water jug 5

What should you look for on a used jug?

The rim and the handle. Those are the two places where damage typically starts and where it matters most for both use and value. Small scratches on the base are entirely normal.

Is it watertight?

Jugs like this are glazed and hold water. If the glaze is crazed it can take up moisture, so test it by filling it and letting it stand for fifteen minutes before you use it for guests.

Why does it say 5 in the name?

That is our own running number for the vintage jugs we have taken in. The figure says something about the order in our range, not about the jug itself.

Does it suit a whisky tasting?

Yes, and that is the obvious use. Put it in the middle of the table with a whisky glass for each guest so everyone can adjust the strength as they go.

Can it be used to serve the whisky itself?

That would be using it wrongly. The jug is for water and has no stopper. If the whisky is to stand out on the table, it belongs in a whisky decanter.

How old is the jug?

We cannot establish the exact age with certainty without reading the factory mark on the base. We sell it as vintage, meaning a used jug from an earlier period, not as newly produced stock.