Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/701904
JAMESON IRISH WHISKEY SELLS 400,000 CASES IN CALIFORNIA n 2009, Southern Wine & Spirits of California began distributing Jameson Irish Whiskey. At the time, the brand was selling just over a 100,000 cases in the Golden State. In six short years, Southern Wine & Spirits (SWS) and Pernod Ricard have grown Jameson Irish Whiskey to over 400,000 cases and established California as the largest Jameson market in the world. When speaking with Jack Brennan, General Manager SWS, of eclipsing such a milestone, he had this to say: "It's a huge achievement to see that after all the hard work, California is not only the number-one market in the U.S., but the world. We look forward to hitting the 500,000 case mark in California this year or next." To celebrate the 400,000-case milestone, the team ventured to Dublin, Ireland, where Shawn Higgins, GM, Pernod Ricard, and Simon Fay, International Marketing Director, Irish Distillers, presented SWS the inaugural Jack Brennan Jameson Achievement Award, which will annually recognize the best performing Jameson market each year in the U.S. Shawn said this about the award and Jack's significant influence on Jameson's performance: "There is absolutely no way California would have had the ongoing success without the leadership by SWS, and it starts with Jack Brennan. Jack has been a driver in rallying his team around the Jameson opportunity. His message has cascaded throughout the SWS organization. It's an honor for Pernod Ricard to be able to recognize the SWS team's results, and Jack made it clear in Dublin that he expects the trophy to remain in California!" Simon Fay also stressed the importance of California and Jameson's momentum: "Irish Distillers has strong global ambitions for the Jameson brand in totality, and the role that the U.S. plays within that is very important to us. Within that context, given California is our number one market in the U.S., the state is always at the forefront of our minds! Surpassing 400,000 cases in California has only been possible due to collective Sine Metu spirit, the pas- sion and commitment of the full team in California, our customers, our distributor partner, Southern Wine & Spirits, and Pernod Ricard USA." july 2016 / the tasting panel / 49 BY IZZY WATSON