Pernod Ricard USA WIns 34 Medals at 2007 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

    PURCHASE, N.Y., March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Pernod Ricard USA, a leading
 producer, importer and marketer of prized spirits and wine brands in the
 United States, is honored to announce that its brand portfolio won an
 impressive 34 medals in the prestigious 2007 San Francisco World Spirits
 Competition.
     Pernod Ricard Double Gold Medal winners include: Jameson(R) 18 Year
 Old, Redbreast(R) 12 Year Old and Midleton(R) Very Rare Irish Whiskies; The
 Glenlivet(R) 21 Year Old Archive and Aberlour(R) single malt whiskies; and
 Wild Turkey(R) Kentucky Spirit and Wild Turkey(R) Master Distiller
 Selection American Whiskies. In addition to receiving Double Gold,
 Redbreast, The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Archive and Wild Turkey Master
 Distiller Selection were selected to be poured in the competition's
 prestigious "Sweepstakes" tasting to determine "best of category and show,"
 and Redbreast was named "Top Irish Whiskey."
     Held on March 17th and 18th at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in San
 Francisco, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is the first
 comprehensive, international spirits judging held in the United States on
 an annual basis. 2007 marked the largest and most successful event in the
 competitions history with 701 spirits entries from 52 countries and 6
 continents. Judging is based on blind taste tests and medals are awarded
 based on taste alone.
     "We're thrilled to have our premium products recognized with such high
 honors at this competition," said Patrick Piana, Senior Vice President,
 Spirits Marketing, Pernod Ricard USA. "These awards affirm that Pernod
 Ricard has developed one of the most highly regarded premium spirits
 portfolios in the industry, appealing not only to consumers, but also to
 the distributors, brokers and retailers who sell our brands."
     Following is the complete list of Pernod Ricard USA brands receiving
 Double Gold or Gold medals in the 2007 San Francisco World Spirits
 Competition:
       * Jameson(R) 18 Year Old and Midleton(R) Very Rare both won Double Gold,
         while Jameson(R) 12 Year Old received a Gold medal in the Irish
         Whiskey category.
 
       * Redbreast(R) 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey was named "Top Irish Whiskey"
         and won a Double Gold medal.
 
       * The Glenlivet(R) 21 Year Old Archive and Aberlour(R) 18 Year Old both
         won Double Gold in the single malt category while Aberlour(R) 12 Year
         Old took home Gold.
 
       * Wild Turkey(R) Master Distiller Selection and Wild Turkey(R) Kentucky
         Spirit both received Double Gold medals while Wild Turkey(R) 101 and
         Wild Turkey(R) Russell's Reserve won Gold medals in the American
         Whiskey category.
 
       * Ballantine(R) 12 Year Old won Gold in the Blended Scotch category.
 
       * Tevado(R) Reposado won a Gold Medal in its first year of entry in the
         tequila category.
 
     CONTACT:
     Jack Shea
     Pernod Ricard USA
     VP, Corporate Communications
     914-848-4787
     Jack.Shea@pernod-ricard-usa.com
 
     John Dooley
     Taylor Rafferty
     Media Contact
     212-889-4350
     John.Dooley@taylor-rafferty.com
 
     About Pernod Ricard USA
     Pernod Ricard USA, based in Purchase, N.Y., is a leading producer,
 importer and marketer of prized spirits and wine brands in the United
 States and is one of the fastest growing subsidiaries of the world's # 2
 spirits company and #3 wine company, Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard,
 S.A. The completion of Pernod Ricard's acquisition of Allied Domecq in 2005
 vaulted Pernod Ricard USA to the forefront of the U.S. spirits market,
 doubling the company's sales value and market share. The company is now the
 third largest in the U.S. spirits industry by sales value and the fourth
 largest by sales volume in the U.S.
     Pernod Ricard USA's leading brands include Kahlua(R) Liqueur, Chivas
 Regal(R) Scotch Whisky, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin(R), Malibu(R) flavored Rum,
 Stolichnaya(R) Vodkas, Jameson(R) Irish Whiskey, The Glenlivet(R) Single
 Malt Scotch Whisky, Wild Turkey(R) Bourbon, Beefeater(R) Gin, Hiram
 Walker(TM) Liqueurs and Martell(TM) Cognac, as well as Jacob's Creek(R) and
 Brancott Estate(R) wines, Perrier Jouet(R) Champagne, Mumm(R) Champagne and
 Mumm Napa(TM) wines, and Pernod(R) and Ricard(R) Liquors. Enjoy Pernod
 Ricard's brands responsibly and in moderation.
 
 

SOURCE Pernod Ricard