Pernod Ricard India

02 / History Our History

The story of Pernod Ricard in India joins two centuries of French craft to three decades of patient, premium brand-building in one of the world's most dynamic markets.

· The milestones

1715
Martell is founded
The oldest of the great cognac houses begins in Jarnac, France.
1780
Jameson, in Dublin
John Jameson establishes his distillery on Bow Street, Dublin.
1805
Pernod is born
Henri-Louis Pernod opens an absinthe distillery in Pontarlier, France.
1824
The Glenlivet, licensed
George Smith takes out the first legal licence to distil whisky in the Livet glen.
1827
Beefeater begins
The London dry gin that will define the category is first distilled.
1879
Absolut, in Sweden
Lars Olsson Smith launches Absolut Rent Branvin near Stockholm.
1909
Ballantine's expands
George Ballantine's blended Scotch finds an international audience.
1932
Ricard is created
Paul Ricard launches his anise spirit in Marseille, building a brand rooted in southern French conviviality.
1975
Pernod Ricard is formed
The merger of Pernod and Ricard creates a global spirits group.
1993
India operations begin
Pernod Ricard India is incorporated, entering one of the world's fastest-growing spirits markets.
1995
Royal Stag launches
Royal Stag enters the Indian market, pioneering the blend of Indian grain spirits and imported Scotch malts.
2001
Seagram acquisition
The group acquires Seagram's spirits portfolio, bringing Royal Stag, Blenders Pride and 100 Pipers into the house.
2010s
Premiumisation accelerates
Local manufacturing scales to 30+ bottling plants and two distilleries, as the premium portfolio grows.
2021
2030 sustainability roadmap
Good Times from a Good Place drives water stewardship and community action across India.
2023
New leadership chapter
A new leadership team takes the business into its next phase of growth.
Today
Building for the decades ahead
The second-largest premium spirits company in India, manufacturing nationwide.