Pernod Ricard this week inaugurated 叠川THE CHUAN, its first malt whisky distillery in China.
The facility, situated in Emeishan, Sichuan Province, is the first fully operational malt whisky distillery to be opened by an international drinks company in China.
“We believe this move cements our position at the forefront of the high-end whisky market,” said Pernod Ricard Asia Chairman and CEO Philippe Guettat in a post on LinkedIn.
“Pernod Ricard has been privileged to play our part in China’s dynamic development for over 30 years and we consider it our mission to bring to life an iconic malt whisky, made in China with pride. 叠川THE CHUAN will leverage the pristine water source of Emei, renowned for its utmost quality, while embracing our whisky heritage from centuries of tradition and craft,” Guettat said.
The character 叠 (dié) means ‘rich and layered’, which pays tribute to the anticipated complex layered notes of the future whisky while also honouring the iconic Lingyan Temple close to our distillery site. The second character 川 (chuān), borrowed from Sichuan, is a nod to the purity of the region’s natural resources.
“I would like to reiterate my gratitude to all those who have worked hard over the past five years to make this vision a reality,” Guettat commented. “To the Sichuan, Leshan and Emeishan Governments, our design partners Neri&Hu, and all the Pernod Ricard teams involved – a massive thank you for your continued support in bringing 叠川THE CHUAN to life.
To view the opening ceremony and take a virtual tour of the distillery visit https://lnkd.in/gtDDwyH3.
