RI

Pernod Ricard SA

A maker of wines and spirits whose shelves span Jameson Irish whiskey, Absolut vodka, Beefeater gin, Chivas Regal, and The Glenlivet. It was born in 1975 when two French rivals merged: Pernod, founded in 1805, which made absinthe before that drink was banned in 1915, and Ricard, created in 1932 by 23-year-old Paul Ricard with his own Marseille pastis recipe. The company's name is simply the two founding brands joined together.