Justerini & Brooks began in 1749 as a wine merchant in London's St. James's, when Giacomo Justerini travelled from Bologna to England to court an Italian opera singer. From that improbable encounter grew a trading house that would eventually create one of the world's best-selling blended Scotch whiskies. J&B Rare was built around Speyside whisky — a choice that gives the blend its characteristic lightness and approachability.

The blend comprises exactly 42 different Scottish single malts and grain whiskies, a recipe that sets J&B apart among blended Scotches. This specific number is no accident: it is a signature of craftsmanship, drawing on Diageo's vast inventory of approximately 10 million casks to ensure consistency across bottlings.