In 1749, Giacomo Justerini (or Giustarini) from Bologna, fell in love with a soprano and followed her to London, bringing with him a number of recipes for liqueurs created by his father, who was a distiller.
He met an English investor, George Johnson, and together they founded the wine merchants Johnson & Justerini.
In 1760, Justerini returned to his native land after selling the business to Johnson.
Johnson continued to grow the business, naming his grandson, Augustus, as a partner, and building relationships with European suppliers from Bordeaux, Cadiz, Mayence, Reims, Genoa, Dijon and Palermo.

The next year, King George III honoured the firm with its first Royal Warrant, which has been granted by eight consecutive British Monarchs since that date.

George Johnson was killed by a runaway horse colliding with his sedan chair in Piccadilly in 1785, while returning from a lunch with the Duke of Queensberry, leaving Augustus Johnson solely in charge of the company.
In 1790, Johnson & Justerini's offices suffered major damage by a fire in the adjoining opera house—Her Majesty's Theatre.
Augustus Johnson's son, Augustus II, is made a partner in recognition of his efforts to extinguish the flames.
In 1749, Giacomo Justerini (or Giustarini) from Bologna, fell in love with a soprano and followed her to London, bringing with him a number of recipes for liqueurs created by his father, who was a distiller. He met an English investor, George Johnson, and together they founded the wine merchants Johnson & Justerini. In 1760, Justerini returned to his native land after selling the business to Johnson. Johnson continued to grow the business, naming his grandson, Augustus, as a partner, and building relationships with European suppliers from Bordeaux, Cadiz, Mayence, Reims, Genoa, Dijon and Palermo.
The next year, King George III honoured the firm with its first Royal Warrant, which has been granted by eight consecutive British Monarchs since that date.
George Johnson was killed by a runaway horse colliding with his sedan chair in Piccadilly in 1785, while returning from a lunch with the Duke of Queensberry, leaving Augustus Johnson solely in charge of the company. In 1790, Johnson & Justerini's offices suffered major damage by a fire in the adjoining opera house—Her Majesty's Theatre. Augustus Johnson's son, Augustus II, is made a partner in recognition of his efforts to extinguish the flames.
Justerini & Brooks