Berry Bros. & Rudd

Berry Bros. & Rudd traces its founding to 1698 when a widow named the Widow Bourne opened a grocery shop at the sign of the coffee mill at 3 St James's Street, London. The business passed through her family before William Pickering and, later, Francis Berry took ownership; the Berry family name was established by the early 19th century. The Rudd name was added in the 20th century following the entry of Hugh Rudd as a partner.

For much of its early history the shop traded principally in groceries, including tea and coffee. A set of scales installed in the cellar for weighing coffee beans became famous: customers — including Beau Brummell, Lord Byron, and multiple members of the British Royal Family — would record their weight on the scales, and these records survive to this day. The firm gradually transitioned into fine wine, and by the 20th century wine had become the dominant trade.

The whisky bottling operation grew in parallel, with Berry Bros. releasing blended Scotch under their own label (Cutty Sark, which they created in 1923, remained under their wing for decades) and later developing own-selection single malt and blended malt bottlings. Blue Hanger was named after William Blue Hanger, 3rd Baron Coleraine, an 18th-century customer known for his eccentric dress sense, who would have his weight recorded at the shop. The company now operates three destinations: the historic shop in St James's, a wine warehouse in Basingstoke, and a Hong Kong office.

The iconic shop at 3 St James's Street, London SW1A 1EG is open to the public and is itself a historic attraction — the coffee-mill sign, original scales, and period fittings make it one of London's most atmospheric retail interiors. Tutored tastings, WSET courses, and private dining events are hosted at the London premises. No distillery tours are offered (Berry Bros. is not a distillery). Online shop at bbr.com offers worldwide delivery.