Pernod Ricard has developed a whisky the company hopes will “break down the traditional barriers” of Scotch.
The spirits giant has launched Ballantine’s Sweet Blend, a whisky the company said “answers the rising demand for sweeter, more approachable spirits”.
Ballantine’s Sweet Blend, bottled at 30% abv, is initially on sale in Poland through online retailers at an RRP of 118.51 zlotys (US$30.03) before hitting a group of unspecified markets.
Just Drinks asked for further details on the roll-out but representatives for Pernod Ricard’s whisky arm Chivas Brothers declined to comment.
The whisky has “sweet, indulgent notes of caramel and vanilla, resulting in a delightfully versatile and inviting pour”,
Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s master blender, added: “By layering the classic notes of Scotch whisky with sweet flavours, we’ve created a spirit that is both distinctive and incredibly versatile.”
Earlier this month, Pernod Ricard said it had seen a “strong performance” from its Ballantine’s brand in the six months to the end of December, which covers the first half of the company’s financial year.
The group noted that Ballantine’s is the best-selling Scotch in Poland in volume terms.
Overall, in the six-month period, Pernod Ricard sold 5.2m nine-litre cases of Ballantine’s, up 8% year-on-year.
The volume sales of Ballantine’s grew 11% compared to the corresponding period a year earlier. Pernod Ricard said “price/mix” was down 3%.
Alongside the half-year results, the group re-set its forecast for annual sales.
The Jameson and Martell owner, which had forecast its full-year organic net sales would return to growth, now sees its organic net sales declining at a “low-single-digit” rate during its 2024/25 financial year, which runs to the end of June.
Pernod Ricard pointed to an “ongoing challenging macroeconomic environment” and “intense geopolitical uncertainties” that it said are hitting the spirits sector.
The group retained its forecast of “sustaining” its organic operating margin.
