5 Surprising Facts You Might Not Know About Berry Bros & Rudd

Berry Bros. & Rudd is the oldest wine and spirits merchant in Great Britain, and has been a family business from the outset. Most whisky enthusiasts in the Netherlands know Berry Bros. & Rudd as an independent bottler who brings beautiful whiskies to the market under their own label.

In 1698, the company now known as Berry Bros. & Rudd was founded. Widow Bourne opened a grocery store in the prestigious neighborhood opposite St. James’s Palace, the official residence of reigning King George I. Along with her two daughters, Widow Bourne laid the foundation for a company that still exists today.

What would Berry Bros. & Rudd be without women? Of course, the answer is that the company wouldn't exist. Widow Bourne started the grocery store to support herself. Her daughter, along with her partner, continued and expanded the business.

Although men have predominantly taken center stage in the ensuing period, three hundred years later, the current chairman of Berry Bros & Rudd is Lizzy Rudd. A woman with a heart for her family, and an eye for the world around her, her family and the company.

With this dedication, she ensures that Berry Bros. & Rudd provides service with a personal approach, a work method established at a time when knowing your customer was the essence of conducting business. That personal approach remains crucial!

Berry Bros. & Rudd began on St. James’s Street in 1698, and despite tumultuous centuries, the company can still be found at this address.

Has nothing changed then? Certainly, it has. The grocery store transformed into a modern coffee house under the ownership of Bourne's daughter and her husband. Their signboard was a coffee mill, which even hung outdoors for centuries. Later, the specialization in wines and spirits was added.

Earlier this year, after a renovation, the premises were connected to their current wine shop at 63 Pall Mall. As a result, the liquor store has doubled in size and is now a vast establishment for wine and spirit enthusiasts. The company also has offices around the globe.

Upon its three hundredth anniversary in 1998, Berry Bros. & Rudd received another Royal warrant, a personal gesture from the Prince of Wales. This makes Berry Bros. & Rudd a valued and trusted supplier to the Royal House.

For years, a classic label adorned the whisky bottles of Berry Bros. & Rudd's own bottling. The name "Berry’s" was predominantly featured. But a decision was made to choose a modern look, focusing not only on color but also the image of the shop at 3 St. James’s Street. The current logo is a window, and not just any window. It's a window from the black front facade of the shop where the full name of Berry Bros. & Rudd is mentioned. Timeless yet contemporary.

Now that you know these facts about Berry Bros. & Rudd, the question naturally arises how one gets hold of a bottle of this liquid sunshine. Thankfully, that's not very difficult. Berry Bros. & Rudd whiskies are sold in our country too, thanks to the Craft Spirits Company.

Explore the whisky bottles with the recognizable check mark at various locations. A delightful example of a specialty store where you'll encounter this liquid gold is Dramtime.nl. Prices there start at around 50 euros for one of their exquisite whiskies.

A very special bottling that Berry Bros. brought to our country and that you absolutely want to taste, is the limited edition whisky (292 bottles) distilled in honor of the two-year anniversary of the Craft Spirits Company. This is a Williamson Laphroaig expression that was distilled in 2013, has matured in a Moscatel cask, and was afterwards bottled at 60.9 percent alcohol.

The whisky is not only vintage, but also perfect for this time of year. In terms of flavor, expect sweet peat smoke, golden sultanas, earthy spices and a medicinal touch.

Also the very latest coast & sea from Berry Bros & Rudd, which was launched a few weeks ago, can now be obtained from Dramtime.nl among others. This release includes a Single Cask Caol Ila from 2010 aged in PX casks, and a Single Cask Dalmore that has matured in Barolo casks.

Which whiskies of Berry Bros. & Rudd have you tasted? Let us know in the comment section below.