Pernod Ricard launches first China-made whisky

Pernod Ricard has released The Chuan Pure Malt Whisky, the first from the French giant to be made in China.

The Chuan pure malt whisky is distilled and bottled at Pernod Ricard China’s whisky distiller in Emeishan, Sichuan Province. The malt whisky is made using both European and Chinese barley and finished in Chinese single oak casks sourced locally.

The company is offering three products under the new brand. A “core” whisky will go on sale for 888 yuan ($124). Pernod will release a second whisky, finished in a PX cask, for sale at 1,119 yuan. A “bottle your own” version will be available for 1,488 yuan.

In the 12 months to the end of June, Pernod Ricard saw its net sales from its Asia/Rest of World reporting unit rise 17%. Alexandre Ricard, the Martell Cognac owner’s chairman and CEO, said the “excellent, broad-based growth” was led by India, China, Turkey and a recovery in the travel-retail channel.

The growth in China was “driven” by Martell and “strong momentum” for Absolut and Jameson, he added.

China is becoming a key battleground for western whisky distillers. In 2021, Diageo announced plans for a single-malt whisky distiller in the southern Yunnan province.

Pernod Ricard, meanwhile, operates a second production site in China with its Helan Mountain Winery in Ningxia in the north of the country.

Just Drinks