Pernod Ricard expands HK portfolio

Drinks giant Pernod Ricard has added three whiskies to its Hong Kong portfolio, in a move to bolster its premium spirits offering in the region.

Chivas Ultis

The new additions include two single malts, Longmorn 16 Year Old and Scapa Glansa and a blended malt, Chivas Regal Ultis.

Created using a higher proportion of rare first-fill American oak casks, matured in ex-Sherry American and traditional oak casks and bottled without chill-filtration, the new ‘interpretation’ of Longmorn 16 Year Old is described as having a richer style of ripe fruit, vanilla and milk chocolate than previous statements. The Longmorn distillery is in Moray, Strathspey with master distiller Trevor Buckley, commenting:

“Longmorn 16 Year Old has long been a firm favourite among Scotch whisky connoisseurs, but we wanted to make it even more luxurious than it was before and the Longmorn team has certainly achieved this. I very much look forward to seeing whisky connoisseurs the world over discover one of Scotland’s best-kept secrets and I hope they enjoy the new expressions of this Speyside icon.”

Longmorn 16 Year Old is now available in Hong Kong via Watson’s Wine at an RSP of HK$1,580.

Scapa Glansa is the first no-aged statement (NAS) from the Orkney-based distillery and is predominately matured in 100% first-fill American oak casks and then finished in peated casks. Bottled at 40% ABV, it is also Scapa’s first peated single malt with master distiller Brian MacAulay noting:

“It has been a real pleasure to bring out the dramatic contrasts of Orkney through Scapa Glansa. As Scapa’s first peated single malt, this long-standing Orcadian whisky, with fruity textures yet smoky finish, makes it the perfect representation of this island of contrasts.”

Scapa Glansa is offered with an RSP of HK$598 in various Hong Kong spirits specialists, including the HK Liquor Store.

Chivas Regal Ultis is a blend of five single malts: Tormore, Longmorn, Strathisla, Allt A’Bhainne and Braeval, in homage to the five master blenders of Chivas since 1909: Charles Howard, Charles Julian, Allan Baillie, Jimmy Lang and present custodian, Colin Scott.

Scott said: “By working together, our blending team has masterfully brought five unique single malts from across the Speyside region to create an exceptional blend which is truly the essence of Chivas Regal Ultis. Each individual malt and each individual blender has added an element of expertise to the whisky, which is unique to the blend, ensuring it is the ultimate embodiment of shared success.”

Chivas Regal Ultis malt whisky will be available at various travel retail outlets at an RSP of US$200 (HK$1,550)