Pernod Ricard's dark spirit push

Pernod Ricard is beefing up its presence in the key dark spirits markets with changes to its portfolio in rum, whisky and cognac.

Within the Havana Club range, the drinks giant is phasing in a new version of its Añejo Especial golden rum that has been aged for longer than the usual product. Although Pernod Ricard is upgrading the quality of the spirit in the bottle, it says the rum will not cost more for licensees to buy.

Havana Club Añejo Especial is a blend of rums aged for up to five years, which gives the spirit a golden colour. However, in line with consumer demand, the company is introducing a new blend with more four- and five-year-old rums in the mix, making the spirit darker in colour. Pernod Ricard is also improving its cognac and whisky offer with two new products. Martell Noblige is being added to the Martell range aimed initially at top-end bars before a full roll-out next year.

The name comes from the old French saying "Noblesse oblige", which means "With wealth, power and prestige come social responsibilities".

The blended cognac is designed to be consumed straight, over ice or in long drinks. Pernod Ricard rounds off this wave of innovation with a new 16-year-old version of the Glenlivet. The Glenlivet Nàdurra 16-year-old cask-strength single malt is said to reflect the original process that would have been used by the first distiller to make the whisky preserving "the full flavour, giving it more body and a richer texture".