HIRAM WALKER® LIQUEURS ADDS MELON LIQUEUR TO THE MIX

Purchase, N.Y., January 10, 2008 - Hiram Walker, the classic, diverse line of premium liqueurs made with all-natural flavors, continues its long tradition of innovation with the introduction of Hiram Walker Melon Liqueur – a delicious honeydew melon flavored liqueur that offers a cost-effective way to add great flavor and color to both traditional and contemporary cocktails.

Like all of the 40 products in the Hiram Walker family, Melon is made with all natural flavors for real fruit taste, said Cort Kinker, Hiram Walker Brand Director at Pernod Ricard USA. “Our new Melon’s vibrant green color, fresh aroma of juicy, ripe honeydew melons and affordable price make it a better alternative to more expensive imported melon liqueurs.” Kinker said. “And taste testing shows that Hiram Walker Melon is better, too.”

The launch of Hiram Walker Melon Liqueur capitalizes on the continued popularity of flavored cocktails and reinforces Pernod Ricard USA’s commitment to solidifying Hiram Walker’s position as a leading player in the dynamic liqueurs category.

“Hiram Walker is known for delivering a wide variety of delicious and innovative schnapps, liqueur and brandy flavors to help create the most refreshing, best tasting cocktails, mixed drinks and fashion martinis at a fair price,” Kinker said. “Our new Melon liqueur is a perfect addition to the line, and its ergonomically designed bottle, built with input from bartenders, adds to the brand’s appeal.”

“Melon Liqueurs are extremely versatile,” adds Kinker. “Hiram Walker’s natural flavor Melon pairs well with vodka, gin, rum, tequila and even brown spirits and is available now to hit the shelves and back bars in time for winter celebrations.”

The launch of Hiram Walker Melon is being supported with pre-packed recipe neckers. Melon will be available in 750ml and 1L sizes and will be sold – along with other top Hiram Walker Liqueur flavors -- at a suggested retail price of $9.99 for the 750ml.

Some delicious Melon cocktail recipes include:
Melon Sour
1 part Hiram Walker Melon Liqueur
4 parts Sour Mix
Serve in a rocks glass over ice and Garnish with an orange slice

Melon Ball
2 parts Hiram Walker Melon Liqueur
1 part Stolichnaya® Vodka
Top with orange juice, grapefruit juice or pineapple juice.
Serve in a rocks glass over ice.

Green Mexican
1 part Hiram Walker Melon Liqueur
1 part Tezon® Tequila
Sweet and sour mix
Fill collins glass with ice.
Add Tequila and Melon, filling the rest of glass with sour mix.
Garnish with an orange slice and a cherry.

Green Monkey
¾ part Hiram Walker Melon Liqueur
1½ parts Malibu® Tropical Banana
1½ parts Sour Mix
1½ parts Pineapplie Juice
Serve on the rocks or straight up.

Visit www.HiramWalker.com for many great Hiram Walker recipes.

About Hiram Walker Liqueurs

Introduced in 1856, Hiram Walker pioneered numerous distillation and manufacturing processes that are now industry standards. For example, Hiram Walker was one of the first product lines to begin placing labels on its bottles.

Hiram Walker Schnapps, Brandies and Bar Essentials now sport a new, contemporary look, including actual photography on the labels to highlight the all-natural flavors used to create the liqueurs. Hiram Walker is one of a very few manufacturers to utilize only all-natural flavors in its entire line-up. The Hiram Walker logo has also been refreshed to reflect Hiram Walker's rich history and sophisticated style. Finally, the bottle has been redesigned with ridges on the collar, allowing for a better grip and easier pouring.

The line of Hiram Walker products consists of 40 Schnapps, Brandies and Bar Essentials. Hiram Walker Schnapps include classic Peppermint, Peach, Butterscotch, and Sour Apple, along with more modern flavors like Tangerine, Mango and recently introduced Pomegranate, Pear, and Pink Grapefruit. Hiram Walker Peppermint Schnapps is the leading Peppermint, accounting for about 30 percent of the peppermint schnapps category. Its leading brandies include Blackberry, Coffee, and Apricot. Triple Sec, Amaretto, Blue and Orange Curacao, along with Crème de Menthe, Cacao, Cassis, and Banana, among others round-out the bar essentials line. Hiram Walker Triple Sec is responsible for roughly 20 percent of total triple sec category sales and is frequently commended for its preferred, natural taste.

About Pernod Ricard USA

Pernod Ricard USA, based in Purchase, N.Y., is a leading producer, importer and marketer of prized spirits and wine brands in the United States and is one of the fastest growing subsidiaries of the world’s #2 spirits company and #4 wine company, Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard, S.A. The completion of Pernod Ricard’s acquisition of Allied Domecq in 2005 vaulted Pernod Ricard USA to the forefront of the U.S. spirits market, doubling the company’s sales value and market share. The company is now the third largest in the U.S. spirits industry by sales value and the fifth largest by sales volume in the U.S.

Pernod Ricard USA's leading brands include Kahlúa® Liqueur, Chivas Regal® Scotch Whisky, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin®, Malibu® flavored Rum, Stolichnaya® Vodkas, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, The Glenlivet® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Wild Turkey® Bourbon, Beefeater® Gin, Hiram Walker®( Liqueurs and Martell™ Cognac, as well as Jacob's Creek® and Brancott Estate® wines, Perrier Jouët® Champagne, Mumm® Champagne and Mumm Napa™ wines, and Pernod®and Ricard® Liquors. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to accept responsibility when considering consuming alcoholic beverages. For more information, please visit: www.AcceptResponsibility.org