New York, NY (January 4, 2016) – Pernod Ricard USA is pleased to announce that Lillet, a wine-based aperitif produced in Bordeaux, France, has joined the Pernod Ricard USA portfolio of premium spirit and wine brands, effective January 1, 2016. Lillet is owned by Pernod Ricard but previously was distributed in the U.S. by William Grant & Sons.
“We are very excited to welcome this growing, profitable and delicious brand into our portfolio,” said Bryan Fry, President and CEO of Pernod Ricard USA. “Lillet is a premium product with a long history of quality and craftsmanship, and world-renowned reputation within the bartender and mixology community as well as among loyal consumers. We are pleased to welcome Lillet into our organization and look forward to further unlocking its potential.”
Lillet is a versatile drink that can be enjoyed in different ways. The traditional method is on ice with a slice of orange peel but there are also more modern ways to enjoy the product such as in a long drink with ice, tonic water and fresh fruit slices. The brand is also widely used as an ingredient in classic cocktails like the Vesper and the Corpse Reviver #2.
Bordeaux’s first and only aperitif, Lillet, was founded in 1872 by merchants of fine wine, Raymond and Paul Lillet. Made in the village of Podensac, south of Bordeaux, the award-winning brand is created with a blend of carefully selected wines that are blended with fruit liqueurs and quinine in a recipe passed down through generations. Available in Blanc, Rose and Rouge, Lillet is featured in top cocktail bars 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 a workforce of nearly 19,000 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®, Kahlúa® Liqueur, Beefeater® Gin, Plymouth™ Gin, Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin®, Martell® Cognac, Hiram Walker® Liqueurs, Pernod®, Ricard® and Avión™ Tequila; such superior wines as Jacob’s Creek®, Kenwood® Vineyards and Brancott Estate®; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouët® Champagne, G.H. Mumm™ Champagne and Mumm Napa® sparkling wines.
Pernod Ricard USA is based in New York, 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.