Pernod Ricard USA® Premium Brands Receive Most Double Gold and Gold Medals Combined in San Francisco World Spirits™ Competition

NEW YORK, April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pernod Ricard USA® is proud to announce that its portfolio of premium spirits brands has claimed the most Double Gold and Gold Medals combined at the prestigious 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ten of the company's brands were awarded top in class Double Gold Medals while 15 brands claimed Gold Medals. In addition, Tequila Avion, distributed by Pernod Ricard USA via a global distribution partnership, received the highly coveted Best White Spirit Award, 2012 and was crowned World's Best Tequila.

Pernod Ricard's powerful Scotch portfolio -- including Chivas Regal® 25 Year Old, The Glenlivet® 18 Year Old and 21 Year Old, and Aberlour® 12 Year Old, 12 Year Old Non-Chill Filtered and 18 Year Old -- led the way claiming six Double Gold Medals. Irish brands Jameson® 18 Year Old and Midleton® Very Rare as well as Cognac brand Martell® Cordon Bleu and Avion Silver also claimed Double Gold at the annual competition, reinforcing Pernod Ricard's commitment to bringing brands of outstanding quality and integrity to market. Gold Medal recipients include: Aberlour 16 Year Old; ABSOLUT ELYX, Chivas Regal 18 Year Old; Martell XO; Midleton Barry Crocket; Olmeca Altos Reposado; Pernod Classic; Pernod Absinthe; Plymouth Gin; Powers John Lane; Redbreast 12 Year Old; Redbreast 15 Year Old; Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength; Royal Salute 21 Year Old; and The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve.

"Recognition from this esteemed organization is a testament to the quality and craftsmanship of our premium brands," noted Paul Duffy, CEO of Pernod Ricard USA. "And the outstanding recognition won by Tequila Avion reconfirms that it belongs alongside such leaders as Absolut, Jameson, Chivas and The Glenlivet.   We recognized early on that Tequila Avion has all the elements necessary to become one of the next great global iconic spirit brands, and we are thrilled that it is now part of our portfolio through our joint venture with the Tequila Avion company."

The San Francisco competition is the oldest, largest, and most recognized spirits competition in the United States. This year, thirty-three prominent spirits experts convened to judge more than 1,200 spirit products from around the world.

ABOUT PERNOD RICARD USA
Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA, which employs more than 18,000 people worldwide and is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI).  

The company's leading spirits and wines include such prestigious brands as Absolut® Vodka, Chivas Regal® Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Malibu®, Kahlua® Liqueur,  Beefeater® Gin, Plymouth™ Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin®, Martell® Cognac,  Hiram Walker® Liqueurs, Pernod®, Ricard® and Avion™ Tequila (through a joint venture with Tequila Avion); such superior wines as Jacob's Creek® and Brancott Estate®; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouet® Champagne, G.H. Mumm™ Champagne and Mumm Napa® sparkling wines. 

Pernod Ricard USA is based in Purchase, New York, and has roughly 850 employees across the country. 

Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active campaign to promote responsible drinking. For more information on this, please visit: www.acceptresponsibility.org.

SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA