Pernod Ricard USA®, the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., is proud to announce it has been named “Importer of the Year” for the second straight year by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), which also named Pernod Ricard’s Ireland-based Midleton Distillery as the 2014 “Distiller of the Year”. In addition to these distinguished awards, ABSOLUT Vodka, Ballantine’s 17 Year Old and Redbreast 21 Year Old took home top “Chairman’s Trophy” awards in their respective categories from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC), while Redbreast 21 Year Old received a perfect score of 100 – an impressive feat accomplished by only one other brand in the competition’s five-year history. Also, Redbreast 15 Year Old was awarded “Best Irish Whiskey” by the SFWSC. In total, Pernod Ricard USA brands scored 16 Double Gold and 15 Gold medals at SFWSC and 33 “Finalist” designations from USC.
“It is a true honor to receive this recognition for our company and our brands from two of the most prestigious spirits competitions in the world,” said Pierre Berard, SVP Spirits Marketing, Pernod Ricard USA. “Being named “Importer of the Year” and “Distiller of the year” reinforces Pernod Ricard’s commitment to producing spirits of outstanding quality that deliver exceptional experiences to our customers and consumers. And the multiple Double Gold and Gold medals from the SFWSC — and “Finalist” designations from the USC — further highlight the craftsmanship of our premium brands. In particular, ABSOLUT’s award in the ultracompetitive vodka category is a strong validation of the consistent devotion to quality that has made this brand the #1 imported vodka in the U.S.”
2014 was another stellar year for the Pernod Ricard Scotch and Irish Whisky portfolios, which combined, brought home 26 of Pernod’s 52 Double Gold and Gold medals from SFWSC and 28 of the company’s 33 “Finalist” designations from USC. Berard added, “Our Irish and Scotch Whisky brands are second to none and are continuing to build momentum at retail and on-premise across the country,” added Berard. “We have recently strengthened our presence in the whisky category with the launch of several exciting premium North American brands including Lot 40™, Pike Creek® and J.P. Wiser’s®. We look forward to building these brands and continuing to strengthen our position in the growing whisky category.”
Pernod Ricard USA 2014 Brand Results:
SFWSC Best in Class/Double Gold Medal Recipients:
• Best Irish Whiskey: Redbreast® 15 YO Irish Whiskey
• Best Canadian Whisky: J.P. Wiser’s® 18 YO Canadian Whisky
SFWSC Double Gold Medal Recipients:
• Aberlour® 12 YO Single Malt Scotch
• Aberlour® 18 YO Single Malt Scotch
• Aberlour A’bunadh® Single Malt Scotch
• Chivas Regal® 12 YO Single Malt Scotch
• Chivas Regal® 25 YO Single Malt Scotch
• Jameson® 12 YO Irish Whiskey
• Longmorn® 16 YO Single Malt Scotch
• Midleton® Barry Crockett Legacy Irish Whiskey
• Powers® Jon Lane Irish Whiskey
• Redbreast® 21 YO Irish Whiskey
• Royal Salute™ 38 YO Scotch
• The Glenlivet® 16 YO Single Malt Scotch
• The Glenlivet® 21 YO Single Malt Scotch
• The Glenlivet® 25 YO Single Malt Scotch
USC Chairman’s Trophy Award Recipients:
• Redbreast® 21 YO Irish Whiskey
• Ballantine’s® 17 YO Blended Scotch Whisky
• ABSOLUT Vodka
USC Finalist Award Recipients:
• Aberlour® 18 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Aberlour® 16 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Ballantine’s® 12 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Beefeater® London Dry Gin
• Beefeater® 24 London Dry Gin
• Beefeater® Burrough’s Reserve London Dry Gin
• Chivas® 25 YO Blended Scotch Whisky
• Chivas® 18 YO Blended Scotch Whisky
• Green Spot® Irish Pot Still Whiskey
• Jameson® 12 YO Blended Irish
• Jameson® 18 YO Blended Irish
• Jameson® Black Barrel Blended Irish Whiskey
• Jameson® Gold Blended Irish Whiskey
• Jameson® Rarest Vintage Reserve Blended Irish Whiskey
• Longmorn® 16 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Midleton® Barry Crockett Legacy Irish Pot Still Whiskey
• Midleton® Very Rare Blended Irish Whiskey
• Olmeca® Altos Plata, 100% Agave Tequila
• Olmeca® Altos Reposada, 100% Agave Tequila
• Plymouth® Gin
• Plymouth® Sloe Gin
• Powers® Signature Irish Pot Still Whiskey
• Powers® John’s Lane Release12 YO Irish Pot Still Whiskey
• Powers® Gold Label Blended Irish Whiskey
• Redbreast® 12 YO Irish Pot Still Whiskey
• Redbreast® 15 YO Irish Pot Still Whiskey
• Redbreast® Cask Strength 12 Years
• Royal Salute™ 38 YO Blended Scotch Whisky
• The Glenlivet® 15 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• The Glenlivet® 18 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• The Glenlivet® 21 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• The Glenlivet® Nadurra 16 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• The Glenlivet® XXV 25 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky
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 1,400 spirit products from around the world, the largest field in the competition’s history.
The Ultimate Beverage Challenge, founded in 2009 by F. Paul Pacult, David Talbot and Sue Woodley, is dedicated to establishing a new platinum standard of integrity and reliability in the industry while bringing meaningful and relevant results in order to recognize the highest degree of product quality
