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Pernod Ricard break ground on the site
of China’s first ever Chinese Malt
Whisky distillery, the first distillery
from an international spirits and wine
group.
Pernod Ricard, owners of iconic Scotch malt whisky distilleries such as The
Glenlivet and Aberlour as well as some of the worlds best selling blended Scotch
whisky brands such as Chivas Regal and Ballantine's has officially broke ground
on the site of China’s first ever Chinese malt whisky distillery, the first
distillery from an international spirits and wine group.
Situated at Emeishan, Sichuan, Pernod Ricard envisions an innovative approach to
malt whisky making that celebrates the natural beauty of the climate in the
region, renowned for its pristine water source and natural terroir. With a
potential investment of one billion RMB (150 million USD) for the next decade,
the 13-hectare distillery site will boast a state-of-the-art malt whisky
distillation facility, due to begin production in 2021.
The Emeishan Malt Whisky Distillery will be first in the world to appoint a
Chinese master distiller, fusing authentic whisky-making craftsmanship and local
knowledge to create an iconic malt whisky.
The Distillery will also house an immersive visitor centre, scheduled to open in
2021, with the ambition of complementing the local tourism industry by becoming
a new world-class destination that will attract 2 million+ tourists over the
first decade of its opening.
Philippe Guettat, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Asia, says, "The
ground-breaking of the distillery signifies the beginning of a journey of
innovation, expertise and dedication to craft a new, iconic malt whisky that
embraces whisky history and heritage with a character unique to Chinese culture.
It is both the symbol of our strong history with China after three decades of
operation and the sign of our deep confidence into the future of international
style spirits in this fascinating market.
"We’re proud to be part of China’s fabric and contributing to the sustainable
growth of its economy and society, by transferring whisky-making expertise to
the people, credibility to the region and the spirit of conviviality to visitors
and consumers alike."
Pernod Ricard has appointed Neri
& Hu, China-based award-winning
architects, notable for their work for
the New Shanghai Theatre, the Tsingpu
Yangzhou Retreat and Aranya Art Centre.
Neri & Hu will design the distillery as
a new cultural icon that celebrates the
local culture and the brand’s spirit of
innovation - allowing people to discover
the beauty of Emeishan through a new
lens.
In line with Pernod Ricard’s global
principles of its Sustainability &
Responsibility roadmap 2030, the
distillery demonstrates deep respect for
the heritage of the region and the land,
which will be brought to life through a
vernacular design approach that
prioritises the preservation of local
resources and environment while allowing
a perfect harmony between the distillery
experience and the panoramas of the
mountain.
The materials used throughout the
architecture take their influence from
the native site, with stone walls built
from the very boulders extracted from
the ground during levelling and
rooftiles assembled by a mixture of
reclaimed and new tiles in the region to
infuse history and local heritage into
the design.
This will be accented by the materials
used in whisky craft, from copper and
metal referencing the striking copper
distillation pots to wood referencing
the aged oak casks. The result is a
fine-tuned balance of rustic and
refined, hard and soft, cool and warm,
natural and crafted – a representation
of the Yin and Yang in the Chinese
culture.
Guettat says, "The decision to bring the
iconic malt whisky from Emeishan Malt
Whisky Distillery to the world stage
demonstrates China’s burgeoning passion
for the spirit and will showcase Pernod
Ricard’s experience in creating and
operating twenty of the world’s most
prestigious whisky distilleries."
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