J&B Uncommon stands as one among scotch whisky’s most enduring success tales, a mix that helped form consuming tradition from Hollywood to Madrid.
This complete information explores how a London wine service provider created one of many world’s most recognizable whiskies.
The Historical past of J&B Uncommon
The story begins in 1749 when Giacomo Justerini moved from Bologna to London, establishing a wine service provider in trendy St James’s Avenue. The corporate, Justerini & Brooks, has equipped each British monarch since George III in 1761.
J&B Uncommon was created within the Nineteen Thirties by Eddie Tatham, who joined as managing director after WWI. A social butterfly who mingled with Hollywood stars like Fred Astaire and Marlene Dietrich, Tatham noticed a possibility as Prohibition resulted in America.
He recruited Charlie Julian, who had created Cutty Sark, to assist develop a brand new mix. Collectively they crafted a recipe utilizing 42 whiskies, with 40% being malts. By 1961, J&B was delivery a million circumstances for export, doubling to 2 million by 1969.
The Sixties and 70s noticed J&B change into a cultural icon. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the Rat Pack had been usually photographed with bottles, whereas Truman Capote and Audrey Hepburn had been additionally followers. The model’s distinctive yellow label and retro design, unchanged for the reason that Nineteen Thirties, gave it on the spot recognition.
Immediately, below Diageo‘s possession, J&B Uncommon maintains its authentic recipe, with ‘coronary heart malts’ nonetheless coming from Knockando, Auchroisk, Strathmill, and Glen Spey distilleries. Whereas it might not command the identical Hollywood standing it as soon as did, it stays massively standard, particularly in Southern Europe the place it’s marketed as the final word social gathering whisky.
Who Owns J&B Uncommon?
J&B Uncommon’s present proprietor Diageo is simply the most recent custodian of this historic model. The possession journey displays the consolidation of the spirits business over the previous century, with every proprietor bringing their very own affect to this celebrated whisky.
The entire possession timeline is:
- Early twentieth century to Fifties: Justerini & Brooks
- Fifties-1962: United Wine Merchants
- 1962-1972: Worldwide Distillers & Vintners
- 1972-1997: Grand Metropolitan
- 1997-present: Diageo
When Justerini & Brooks first owned J&B Uncommon, they targeted on constructing its status as a premium scotch whisky. United Wine Merchants expanded distribution, whereas Worldwide Distillers & Vintners helped set up the model in key European markets like Spain. Beneath Grand Metropolitan, J&B Uncommon’s world presence grew considerably.
Immediately, Diageo manages J&B Uncommon as a part of its intensive whisky portfolio, which incorporates different well-known manufacturers like Johnnie Walker. The corporate maintains the normal manufacturing strategies and recipe, making certain the whisky retains the character that made it well-known. Manufacturing nonetheless facilities on the identical 4 key distilleries – Knockando, Auchroisk, Strathmill, and Glen Spey – that present the ‘coronary heart malts’ for this distinctive mix.
The J&B Uncommon Mix
J&B Uncommon stands aside from different blended scotch whiskies, being the one mix that particularly requires 42 completely different whiskies in its recipe. This complicated formulation consists of each single malts and grain whiskies, with 40% of the mix coming from malt whiskies.
At its coronary heart are 4 obligatory single malts – Knockando, Auchroisk, Strathmill, and Glen Spey. These ‘coronary heart malts’ present the whisky’s distinctive character, whereas grain whiskies create a delicate canvas that enables the malts to shine. The grain parts are notably vital in delivering the whisky’s signature silky texture and serving to to open up the flavors of the malts.
Whereas J&B Uncommon carries no age assertion, that is by design. The grasp blender selects whiskies based mostly on once they attain optimum taste quite than age, permitting for better consistency within the closing product. Every cask is chosen at exactly the suitable second when its flavors will contribute completely to the mix.
Immediately, Diageo’s intensive whisky shares (round 10 million maturing casks) guarantee J&B Uncommon maintains its constant high quality. With entry to 27 malt distilleries and two grain distilleries, the grasp blender can fastidiously choose casks that keep the whisky’s conventional character whereas making certain a dependable provide of this standard mix.
The result’s a light-coloured whisky that’s delicate but complicated, delivering recent, grassy notes balanced with warming spice and only a trace of smoke. The mix maintains the identical character that made it well-known within the Nineteen Thirties, demonstrating outstanding consistency over almost a century of manufacturing.
Awards Received by J&B Uncommon
J&B Uncommon has received a number of gold and silver medals in prestigious spirits competitions, together with Gold at The Scotch Whisky Masters in each 2014 and 2015.
In the course of the 2010s, the mix constantly demonstrated its high quality in main worldwide competitions. In 2015, it earned a Gold Medal within the Blended: Customary class at The Scotch Whisky Masters, run by business publication The Spirits Enterprise. This was adopted by one other Gold Medal the earlier 12 months within the Blended: Premium class of the identical competitors.
The whisky has additionally carried out effectively on the Worldwide Wine & Spirit Competitors (IWSC), one of many world’s most revered spirits competitions. It secured a Silver Medal within the Scotch Whisky – Blended class in 2013, adopted by a Bronze Medal in the identical class in 2014.
How To Get pleasure from
In addition to having fun with this dram neat, Justerini & Brooks has just a few completely different serving recommendations for J&B Uncommon cocktails that can assist you discover your favourite tipple.
Signature J&B
50ml J&B Uncommon
125ml Fevertee Ginger Ale
Cubed Ice
Garnish: Squeeze orange wedge & add as garnish
Signature J&B Fragrant
50ml J&B Uncommon
125ml Fevertee Pink Fragrant Tonic
Cubed Ice
Garnish: Slice of recent ginger
Signature J&B Pink
50ml J&B Uncommon
15ml Strawberry Liqueur
125ml Fevertee Pink Fragrant Tonic
Cubed Ice
Garnish: Grapefruit wedge & strawberry
Signature J&B Julep
Muddle recent mint leaves with
15ml Sugar Syrup
Add crushed ice
50ml J&B Uncommon
High with Fevertree Elderflower Tonic
Garnish: Sprig of mint
