So, you are a collector of whisky in 2022. The fluctuation in the value of these Bell’s decanters during the 1990s holds lessons for current whisky collectors and investors, even though you may not find them relevant.
How much does Bells Whisky cost?
In this video, Mark analyses the market shifts over the past three decades that have reduced the value of Bell’s commemorative decanters from £1,200 to less than £30 at auction, assuming you can locate an auction house to sell them for you.
The fact is that Bell’s decanters have an attractive exterior, but the whisky within is identical to the whisky in the standard glass bottles. People purchased and collected these bottles due to their appearance and the message they made about their owner (followers of our YouTube channels may notice some parallels with the current market there). In addition, they were also gathered as royal souvenirs.
In the last thirty years, the whisky industry has evolved significantly, and there are fewer royal memorabilia collectors. This, along with the prohibition on selling booze on eBay and Facebook, signaled the end of Bell’s Decanter period.
How should a Bell’s Decanter be used?
Unfortunately, several auction companies have ceased listing Bell’s Decanters altogether. There are too many of them, they do not sell well, and when they do sell, their non-standard form makes them difficult to export.
If you have a bottle or collection of bells, you have a few options:
Find an auction house willing to list it for you.
Once empty, you can sell the decanters on eBay after appreciating their sentimentality.