Give our man ED a Bell’s!

28 Jan, 2018 - 00:01 0 Views
Give our man ED a Bell’s! President Emmerson Mnangagwa

The Sunday Mail

Now tell me why after Davos you would not want to give President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa a bottle, two, three, or even four of Bell’s?
The fellow simply smashed it. He was clear. He was succinct. Precise. Humble. Modest and unassuming.

The UK’s best-selling blended Scotch, with a rich heritage dating back to the mid-19th century.

The principal expression available globally is Bell’s Original, which comprises up to 40 different malt and grain whiskies.

The “heart malt” of Bell’s is Blair Athol, while the Speyside malt of Dufftown and the Lowlander Glenkinchie help to shape the blend’s character, along with a quantity of Caol Ila from Islay, which adds a touch of island influence.

Overall, Bell’s Original may be summed up as offering soft grains and spices on the floral and fruity nose, with a sweet, nutty, malty and spicy palate, which yields just a hint of peatiness.

The slightly smokier Bell’s Special Reserve is a second variant, available only in the UK.

Perth-based Arthur Bell began vatting malt whiskies together to provide greater consistency from 1851, going on to combine malts and grains to create his own blended Scotch.

In 1895 the “Extra Special” trademark was registered, and was first used alongside Bell’s name in 1904.

This was effectively Bell’s first branded blend, and the “Extra Special” tag was used until the introduction of the Bell’s Original variant in 2008.

1896 saw the registration of Arthur Bell’s signature, which still adorns every bottle, along with the slogan “Afore ye go”, which was registered in 1921 and first used four years later.

The famous saying that’s on every bottle of Bell’s Blended Scotch Whisky – “Afore ye go”.

The literal meaning is “Before you go”, but what it really means is “Stay a little a longer and share a dram”.

After all when you’ve got good friends, good whisky and good tales to tell, why cut the occasion short?

So now you’re here reading this article why not stay a while longer and have a look around the world of Bell’s, and see the strength of character that makes its history and its whisky?

By 1970 Bell’s was Scotland’s leading blended Scotch, and in 1978 it became the best-selling blended Scotch in the UK, having seen sales grow in value by some 800 percent between 1970 and 1979, though it did briefly lose its number one status to The Famous Grouse in 1980.

Remarkably, by that year Bell’s could boast around 35 percent of the market share for standard blended Scotch in Britain.

In the decade from 1970, output from Bell’s distilleries rose from 4,75 million litres per annum to 13,44 million litres, partly due to the construction of Pittyvaich distillery in Dufftown during 1974.

Much of the credit for Bell’s dramatic growth is usually given to Arthur Bell & Sons’ dynamic chairperson and chief executive Raymond Miguel, who left the company in the wake of its takeover by Guinness in 1985.

One major change to the actual Bell’s blend took place in 1994, when an eight-year-old age statement was added. This was a time when there was a surplus of mature Scotch whisky, so the move to give a perception of additional quality and kudos was understandable.

With mature whisky in short supply by 2008, the age statement was removed and the blend rebranded as Bell’s Original, with owner Diageo claiming that the revamped recipe was closer to that first formulated by Arthur Bell.

Bell’s first began to release whisky in ceramic decanters during the 1920s, commemorating special occasions, and by 1930 a bell-shaped decanter was in use.

A unique decanter is now produced each Christmas, while the highest prices at auction are paid for the 1981 Prince Charles & Lady Diana Spencer Royal Wedding decanter.

Today, the leading markets for Bell’s Original are the UK, South Africa, the Nordic countries, Spain and Brazil, and globally the brand is currently the 10th best-selling blended Scotch whisky, accounting for 2.36 million cases in 2013.

That is blended whiskey for you.

Now tell me why after Davos you would not want to give President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa a bottle, two, three, or even four of Bell’s?

The fellow simply smashed it.  He was clear. He was succinct. Precise. Humble. Modest and unassuming.

Tell me which thinking person would not want to vote for him this year? Tell me which standing MP would not want to campaign for him this year, whether the MP is from Zanu PF or the opposition?

C’mon, the fellow nailed it!

They threw all sorts of questions at him but he maintained his poise and composure. He clearly showed that he has arrived. They even dared his emotional intelligence regarding Gukurahundi and the man simply stood his ground.

“Currently, we have signed a Bill, the National Healing Act and I have assigned one of my Vice-Presidents to deal with that one!” ED shot at the condescending reporter.

“Is it called a Truth and Reconciliation Commission?” she fired in a desperate bid not to be outdone.

“It’s not called a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it’s called a National Healing and Peace Commission,” ED promptly corrected the agenda-setting reporter. “The past should not stop us from having a better future!” Icho!

There was no credible comeback after that.

Love him or hate him ED acquitted himself extremely well in Davos. Not even the Zhuwaos or Jononos of this world could discredit his credibility.

This is 2018 and ED has given every reason why every right-minded Zimbabwean must vote for him and his party.

Surely, there comes a time when we have to acknowledge sheer brilliance, composure and articulation.

The man deserves a Bell’s. And let’s wear that fashionable scarf as we do our toasts.

Dubulaizitha!

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