Pernod Ricard Forms North American Distillers Unit

Pernod Ricard, the number-two spirits company, is creating a new unit to manage its North American Whiskey brands and production. Veteran Pernod Ricard executive Richard… Read More

Pernod Ricard, the number-two spirits company, is creating a new unit to manage its North American Whiskey brands and production. Veteran Pernod Ricard executive Richard Black will head up the new company, to be called North American Distillers.

The company will exist within Pernod Ricard much as the Chivas Brothers and Irish Distillers units operate, with responsibility for both production and marketing of the Pernod Ricard North American portfolio. Until now, Jefferson’s Bourbon, Smooth Ambler, Rabbit Hole, Skrewball, and TX Whiskey had operated independently of each other within Pernod Ricard USA’s umbrella.

In a statement announcing the move, Black said “American whiskey is a dynamic spirits category, and our portfolio shows immense potential for future growth. Our investments made in Jefferson’s, Rabbit Hole, Smooth Ambler, Skrewball and TX, underscore our ambitious commitment. My mission is to harness this potential and drive a singular focus on these brands and our operations, driving us towards our goals and creating a top-tier marketing and sustainable operations team on the back of our peoples’ deep-rooted expertise.” 

Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian will transition to a new role overseeing liquid strategy for the entire group as part of the move.

WhiskyCast has requested an interview with Richard Black, and this story will be updated with additional information.

The Glenlivet Announces Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection

The Glenlivet, the iconic Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, today announced the addition of The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection to its portfolio of award-winning single malt Scotch whiskies. A category-first innovation, the new expres…

The Glenlivet, the iconic Speyside single malt Scotch whisky, today announced the addition of The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection to its portfolio of award-winning single malt Scotch whiskies. A category-first innovation, the new expression offers an elevated, one-of-a-kind taste experience by selectively finishing1 The Glenlivet's iconic single malt Scotch whisky in bespoke casks that are uniquely crafted by fusing dismantled rum and bourbon barrels. The launch of The Glenlivet Fusion Cask Rum comes as the #1 single malt scotch whisky2 brand continues to challenge conventions and set new standards of excellence within the single malt category.

In a first for Scotch, The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection has been expertly finished in bespoke casks crafted from a combination of first-fill rum and bourbon barrels to deliver a distinctive single malt taste experience. These hand-selected barrels have been dismantled and reassembled by expert coopers into one bespoke cask, creating a harmonious fusion of luscious fruit and caramel-toffee notes. This luxurious new depth of flavor elevates The Glenlivet's signature fruity house style. The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection offers aromas of orange, vanilla custard, caramel, coconut and zest of lemon, notes of juicy apricot and peach, fresh apples, toffee-covered bananas and subtle cinnamon spice on the palate, and a sweet and smooth finish with enduring notes of orange.

Kevin Balmforth, The Glenlivet Cask Expert says:

This category-first innovation continues our commitment and 200-year legacy of pushing boundaries in whisky. As a team of makers at The Glenlivet, we work closely with our partners at the cooperage to ensure the handmade casks are of the highest quality, and this intricate dismantling and reassembling process to create new bespoke casks ensures a distinctive and expertly-crafted finish.

Balmforth and the team of makers at The Glenlivet were drawn to the idea of a fusion cask finish – taking two separate flavors from outside The Glenlivet's home in Scotland and bringing them together to create a taste experience that is one-of-a-kind for Scotch. With an unconventional process, expertly crafted finish and distinctive technique, The Glenlivet Fusion Cask is a testament to The Glenlivet's spirit of craftmanship and innovation. This spirit, which dates back to 1824 when The Glenlivet founder George Smith became the first distiller to secure a legal whisky distilling license in the parish of Glenlivet, continues to inspire our makers today, paying homage to the brand's legacy whilst forever moving forwards.

Johan Radojewski, Vice President Marketing - Scotch, Irish & Prestige Whisk(e)y, Pernod Ricard USA adds:

The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask is a welcome addition to our portfolio as we continue our journey to push the single malt category forward. Prestige spirits drinkers in the US are seeking unique and elevated taste experiences, and The Glenlivet Fusion Cask proudly delivers on that demand as we pioneer new depths of flavor through our commitment to craftmanship and innovation.

The Glenlivet Rum and Bourbon Fusion Cask Selection is launching February 2024 in the US, as the iconic single malt Scotch whisky commences its bicentennial celebrations, marking 200 years of redefining traditions and moving the single malt Scotch whisky category forward. This unique whisky is the first in The Glenlivet Fusion Cask Series and joins The Glenlivet's remarkable range of prestigious single malts. To discover more about The Glenlivet Fusion Cask and experience taste transformed by fusion, please visit https://www.theglenlivet.com/en-us/fusion-cask/.

My Take

I'm not a huge scotch fan, but I know a lot of you are so I thought it was important to post this. I'd be curious if anyone tries this, what they think of it compared to bourbon. That might be a future article if I see this out and about. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comment box below. 


Source: Pernod Ricard USA

Is the Luxury Whisky Investment Market Softening?

Whisky has become more attractive as an investment asset in recent years, but a new report indicates the value of luxury whiskies has declined over… Read More

Whisky has become more attractive as an investment asset in recent years, but a new report indicates the value of luxury whiskies has declined over the past year. We’ll talk with the report’s author, Duncan McFadzean of Scotland’s Noble & Company, on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, lots of hardware was handed out at this week’s awards ceremonies in Scotland and Ireland, and we’ll have the details. Chivas Brothers faces strikes by its union workers next week, and there’s less than a month left before American whiskies face European import tariffs again.

Episode 1033: December 3, 2023

Links: Noble & Company | Scottish Whisky Awards | Icons of Whisky Ireland | Irish Whiskey Awards | Midleton Distillery Experience | Remy Cointreau | Pernod Ricard | Chivas Brothers | Old Fitzgerald | Jack Daniel’s | Fuji Whisky | Deanston | Cedar Ridge Distillery | Midleton Very Rare | Waterford Whisky | Adelphi | Lindores Abbey

Jefferson’s Bourbon Announces New $250 Million Dollar Distillery

Pernod Ricard owned brand Jefferson’s Bourbon has announced an investment of $250 million over five years to build a carbon neutral distillery, with related aging warehouses in Marion County, Kentucky.Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO, Pernod Ric…

Pernod Ricard owned brand Jefferson's Bourbon has announced an investment of $250 million over five years to build a carbon neutral distillery, with related aging warehouses in Marion County, Kentucky.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO, Pernod Ricard says:
American whiskey is an extremely vibrant spirits category, and our strategic investments over the last few years have proven successful. Our philosophy of partnering with entrepreneurial brand founders, while preserving the heritage and terroir associated with the brands they created, has made us an established player in premium American Whiskey. Jefferson's founder Trey Zoeller is no exception.  This new investment will allow us to grow our share of category sales not only in the U.S., but also in export markets.
Part of the announcement is that this new facility will be carbon neutral once operational. The facility is also expected to be the first distillery of its size in the U.S. to achieve LEED certification. Some of the ways they are achieving this is by:
  • Electrode boilers powered by certified renewable electricity, enabling the distillery to not use fossil fuels during bourbon production.
  • On site electric trucks and facility vehicles also powered by renewable electricity.
  • Extensive use of solar and natural lighting throughout the property and facility.

Construction is slated to begin in 2023 and will have a 7.5 million proof gallon capacity once finished. Pernod Ricard is spending mad dollars in the US... here are some of their latest announcements and acquisitions:

  •  In 2022, the company's Ft. Smith, Arkansas manufacturing plant has invested in new canning and bottling lines.
  • In August 2019, Pernod Ricard acquired the TX Whiskey brand, based in Fort Worth, Texas. TX is known for its bourbon made from a proprietary yeast derived from the pecan tree, the official state tree of Texas.
  • In July 2019, Pernod Ricard acquired a majority stake in Rabbit Hole Distillery, known for its super-premium bourbon and iconic distillery in Louisville, Kentucky.
  • In 2016, the company bought a majority stake in Smooth Ambler, the award-winning West Virginia whiskey distiller. Pernod Ricard assumed full ownership of the brand late last year.

My Take

I don't know why I'm so amused by the renderings... the deer in the top picture make me laugh every time I see it and the second picture looks like my time at The Fisher College of Business or Grandview Yard. Regardless of the pictures, it's always good to have more supply of bourbon and more distilleries to visit close to Ohio. I'm looking forward to this being finished and am excited about the sustainable building. 

What do you think? Drop a note in the comment box below. 


Source: Pernod Ricard USA

Happy Hour Live at the American Whiskey Convention (Episode 898: September 15, 2021)

Live broadcasting is sort of like walking a tightrope…most of the time, it works. Then, there are those times when one’s walking the tightrope while juggling chainsaws, and that’s what happened during our #HappyHourLive webcast Friday night at the American Whiskey Convention. While the live video stream was plagued with technical glitches, our audio backup made this episode possible! Thanks to all of our guests who joined us Friday night, as well as those of you who watched the live video stream. Links: Catoctin Creek | Kentucky Artisan Distilling | Jefferson’s Bourbon | Cooper Spirits | Altered State Distillery | Read More »

Live broadcasting is sort of like walking a tightrope…most of the time, it works. Then, there are those times when one’s walking the tightrope while juggling chainsaws, and that’s what happened during our #HappyHourLive webcast Friday night at the American Whiskey Convention. While the live video stream was plagued with technical glitches, our audio backup made this episode possible! Thanks to all of our guests who joined us Friday night, as well as those of you who watched the live video stream.


Links: Catoctin Creek | Kentucky Artisan Distilling | Jefferson’s Bourbon | Cooper Spirits | Altered State Distillery | Widow Jane | Uncle Nearest | New Liberty Distillery | George Washington’s Distillery at Mount Vernon | Wild Turkey | Limestone Branch Distillery