Diane Kruger becomes Martell ambassador

Hollywood actress and self-confessed Francophile Diane Kruger is Martell cognac’s ambassador for the brand’s 300th anniversary this year.

Pernod disposes of Caribe Cooler

Pernod Ricard has announced the completion of the sale of the Mexican ready-to-drink brand Caribe Cooler to Grupo Bepensa.

Bottle Your Own Jameson

Drinks International's editor Christian Davis on Jameson's bottle your own initiative.

Pernod Ricard announces executive appointments

Pernod Ricard has announced a number of appointments that will see the current CEO of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët (MMPJ), Philippe Guettat, head Pernod Asia. 

SWA makes Pernod's Pringuet its new chairman

The Scotch Whisky Association has appointed Pierre Pringuet, CEO of Pernod Ricard, as its new chairman.

New limited edition Martell

Martell, which claims to be the oldest of the great cognac houses, is celebrating its 300th anniversary with the release of a new limited edition expression, Martell Premier Voyage.

Pernod Ricard sees sales rise in Q1

Pernod Ricard has posted organic growth of 2% with sales totalling €2,037 in the first quarter of 2014/15. 

Pernod Ricard sends young talents to One Young World

Pernod Ricard is sending nine ‘young talents’ to the One Young World Summit in Dublin from 15-19 October. 

Chivas completes construction of Dalmunach distillery

Chivas Brothers, the scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, has completed the construction of its new Speyside malt whisky distillery.

Irish Whiskey Academy opens to the general public

Irish Distillers is opening the doors to its Irish Whiskey Academy to the general public with in-depth courses available to spirits enthusiasts from December this year.

Denis O’Flynn is next WSTA chairman

Pernod Ricard UK managing director, Denis O’Flynn has been elected as the next chairman of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA), succeeding Nick Hyde in January 2015.

Pernod hit by China and currency exchange rates

Pernod Ricard CEO Pierre Pringuet remains optimistic about China despite 23% decline in sales in its full year results.

Pernod Ricard reports 7% sales decline

The Pernod Ricard group has reported sales of €7.945 million for the financial year 2013/14.

Chivas expands Glenlivet Nàdurra

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin division of Pernod Ricard, has announced it is expanding The Glenlivet Nàdurra brand.

Pernod hit by unfavourable foreign exchange rates

Pernod Ricard’s net sales for the first nine months of the 2013/14 financial year totalled €6,186 million – down 7% on the same period last year. The company says the results are in line with the first half-year and sales were stable excluding foreign exchange and group structure effects.

Jameson fit for purpose says Lundberg

Jameson is in a very good period right now. The momentum is there and there is room to go up, according to Jameson International brand director, Dan Lundberg.

Plymouth gin in Heathrow T5

Pernod Ricard Travel Retail Europe has unveiled its largest travel retail activation to date in Heathrow Terminal 5, featuring its artisanal gin brand Plymouth.

Chivas launches Masters bartender competition

Chivas Brothers has launched a major international bartender competition called Chivas Masters.

Pernod’s interims

The Pernod Ricard team were in London today (February 18) to flesh on the bones for their half year interim results which were announced last week.

Pernod results

Pernod Ricard has reported net sales for the first semester of 2013/14 totalled €4.57 million.

Friedman is Absolut’s new global travel retail director

Pernod Ricard has announced the appointment of Doron Friedman as director global travel retail at The Absolut Company (TAC).

Ballantine's does a Brazilian

Ballantine’s Brasil is the name of a new lime-infused spirit drink, from the Chivas Brothers scotch and premium gin divisions of Pernod Ricard.

Havana heaven

I have just returned from the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Havana Club International. Standing in a huge hall with more than 1,000 people – mostly employees but also people associated with the company and the eponymous Cuban rum brand – it became obvious what a force for good an alcoholic drinks brand can be.

Havanista is formally launched

Pernod Ricard has launched formally the Havanista Cuban rum brand at the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of Havana Club International.

Western spirits companies focus on margin

Western spirits companies that focus on growing margins to create value have been more successful than those that reduced prices in order to grow volumes, according to a report from Rabobank.

More new Irish whiskeys

Irish Distillers has launched more Irish whiskeys, this time under the Paddy brand.

Pernod Ricard extends ICAP support to Vietnam

Pernod Ricard CEO Pierre Pringuet was in Vietnam yesterday to sign a multi-partite agreement extending the International Center for Alcohol Policies’ (ICAP) pilot programme in its fight against drunk driving.

Irish PM opens Irish Distillers’ €100m expansion of Midleton

The Irish prime minister or Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, yesterday (September 4) officially opened Irish Distillers’ newly expanded Midleton distillery in Cork.

US and China offset Pernod's home-region decline

Pernod Ricard grew sales by 4% during 2012/2013, thanks to the US and China offsetting a western European malaise.

Irish Distillers release 2013 edition of Midleton Very Rare

Irish Distillers has launched the latest release of its flagship blended whiskey, Midleton Very Rare.

Absolut announces new look for its flavoured vodkas

Absolut has announced new designs for its range of flavoured vodkas.

Bring on Christmas says Pernod UK

Christmas is £4 billion worth of business for beer, wines and spirits, according to Pernod Ricard UK.

Menezes steps up at Diageo

Listening to BBC Radio 4 this morning (July 31), I heard the voice of the new chief executive of Diageo. Ivan Menezes coped well with the busy, bustling questions from the Beeb’s city correspondent in the minute or so allotted to the interview.

51 Rosé rolls out to travel retail

Pernod Ricard has rolled out the rosé anise-based drink, 51 Rosé, to French travel retail.

Lacassagne takes over at Chivas

Laurent Lacassagne has this week (W/C July 8) become chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard.

Glen Keith distillery re-opens

Chivas Brothers' Speyside distillery, Glen Keith, has re-opened, having been closed, or silent, since 1999.

Pastis

A very French product is showing innovation and a willingness to tackle new markets. Lucy Britner reports 

Whisky Galore

I went to two whisky launches yesterday (May 8) – Bacardi’s Glen Deveron, the Royal Burgh Collection and Pernod Ricard/Chivas Brothers’ The Glenlivet Alpha. Both interesting for different reasons and very much a case of ‘chalk & cheese’ when it comes to the brand and what they are doing with it.

Age statement-free Glenlivet Alpha launches

The Glenlivet, the world’s second best selling single malt Scotch whisky by volume behind Glenfiddich, has launched The Glenlivet Alpha (50%) ABV.

Gin is extremely uninteresting

The global Gin sector is low price, low growth and extremely uninteresting, according to a top City of London analyst.

New limited edition Beefeater gin

Pernod Ricard Chivas Brothers has released a new limited edition expression of Beefeater, the world’s best-selling premium gin.

Absolut goes denim with Cronk

Pernod Ricard has launched Absolut Denim, the latest version of the Swedish vodka brand.

Pernod Ricard appointments

Pernod Ricard has announced the following moves, effective from July 1.

£35 Brancott Estate to launch

Pernod Ricard will unveil a £35 bottle of Brancott Estate this month.

Pernod Ricard to buy Cognac company

Pernod Ricard has eased concerns over Cognac supply with the purchase of 100% of the shares of the winemaker, distiller and wholesaler Le Maine au Bois SAS.

Ten Midleton pot still whiskeys launch

Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers has built on its commitment to the single pot still Irish whiskey category with the release of ten new Midleton whiskeys.

Irish Distillers announces Crockett retirement

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has announced the retirement of Jameson Irish Whiskey master distiller Barry Crockett.

Pernod Ricard sells aquavit and bitter brands

Pernod Ricard has announced formally the signing of an agreement with Arcus-Gruppen to sell the Danish spirits brands Aalborg and Brøndums, German brand Malteserkreuz Aquavit, and the Danish bitter brand Gammel Dansk. The Aalborg production facility in Denmark is part of the transaction.

Jacob’s Creek vintage is underway

Orlando Wyndham has announced that the harvesting of the 2013 vintage in Australia for its global wine brand, Jacob’s Creek, is underway.

"First floral vodka" Absolut Hibiskus launches

US: Pernod Ricard has launched Absolut Hibiskus - what it describes as the first ever floral-flavoured vodka.