- Chivas Regal(R) 25 Year Old Awarded Double Gold/Best Blended Scotch and Jameson(R) Rarest Vintage Reserve Awarded Double Gold/Best Irish Whiskey - PURCHASE, N.Y., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Pernod Ricard USA(R), a leading producer, importer and marketer of prized spirits and wine brands in the United States, is honored to announce that its premium brand portfolio won an impressive 47 medals at the prestigious 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The company's distinguished whiskey portfolio earned seven Double Gold and seven Gold Medals in addition to claiming the competition's "Best Blended Scotch" title for Chivas Regal(R) 25 Year Old and "Best Irish Whiskey" title for Jameson(R) Rarest Vintage Reserve. "Our Whiskey portfolio is second to none," said Patrick Piana, Senior Vice President, Spirits Marketing, Pernod Ricard USA. "From Chivas Regal(R) Blended Scotch, The Glenlivet(R) and Scapa(R) Single Malts and Jameson(R) Irish Whiskey to Wild Turkey(R) Kentucky Bourbon, Pernod Ricard has developed one of the most powerful and successful whiskey portfolios in the U.S. The 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition results are validation of the superior quality and craftsmanship of all our whiskey brands." Pernod Ricard Double Gold Medal winners in the whiskey category included: Jameson(R) and Jameson(R) Rare Vintage Reserve, Chivas Regal(R) 25 and 18 Year Old, The Glenlivet(R) 18 Year Old, Scapa(R), and Wild Turkey(R) 101. Gold Medal winners include Powers(R) Irish Whiskey, Wild Turkey(R) American Spirit, Wild Turkey Rare Breed(R), Wild Turkey(R) Rye18, Russell's Reserve(R) Rye and The Glenlivet(R) Nadurra 16 Year Old. In addition, Martell(TM) Creation Grand Extra and Beefeater(R) Gin each won prestigious Double Gold Medals. "Our strategy for growth is based on premiumization and innovation," added Piana. "Pernod Ricard is providing consumers with superior quality products that represent luxury they desire and can afford. We are thrilled to have our premium products recognized with such high honors at this competition." Held on March 15 and 16 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. Founded in 2000 by Anthony Dias Blue, the Executive Director of the San Francisco International Wine Competition and Carol Seibert, the Managing Director of the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the Spirits Competition continues to grow each year in entrants as well as in stature within the industry. Judging is based on blind taste tests and medals are awarded based on taste alone. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to accept responsibility when considering consuming alcoholic beverages. For more information, please visit: http://www.acceptresponsibility.org/. 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 #4 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 fifth 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(R) Liqueurs and Martell(TM) Cognac, as well as Jacob's Creek(R) and Brancott Estate(R) wines, Perrier-Jouet(R) Champagne, GH Mumm(R) Champagne and Mumm Napa(R) wines, and Pernod(R) and Ricard(R) Liquors. DATASOURCE: Pernod Ricard USA CONTACT: Shawn Kelley of Pernod Ricard USA, +1-914-848-4816, ; or Liz Benyon of NOVA Marketing Services, +1-203-254-8225, , for Pernod Ricard USA Web site: http://www.pernod-ricard-usa.com/ http://www.acceptresponsibility.org/

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