Justerini & Brooks is one of the oldest and most distinguished names in the world of Scotch whisky, with roots stretching back to 1749 when Italian wine merchant Giacomo Justerini established his business in London's prestigious St. James's district. The company took its current name in 1831 when Alfred Brooks acquired the firm, combining both founders' legacies into the now-iconic J&B brand. For over 270 years, Justerini & Brooks has traded from St. James's, supplying discerning customers with fine wines and spirits. The company was later acquired by Grand Metropolitan, which merged with Guinness PLC in 1997 to form the drinks giant Diageo PLC. Justerini & Brooks is best known for its flagship expression, J&B Rare, a light and approachable blended Scotch whisky that became one of the best-selling Scotch whiskies in the world. The brand focused early on building J&B Rare's reputation as a premium Scotch, with notable success in the export market. By 1961, the company had shipped one million cases of whisky for export — a figure that doubled to two million cases just eight years later in 1969. Today, J&B Rare remains a globally recognised benchmark for accessible, easy-drinking blended Scotch whisky under the Diageo portfolio.