Founded by Still Bay native Lorna Scott in 2011, the craft distillery creates uniquely South African spirits using hand-harvested wild African botanicals.
Having already held a stake in the company, Pernod Ricard has now acquired the remaining Iverroche shares in a deal concluded this month.
Products are infused with local botanicals from the limestone-rich soils of the lowlands of the Cape Floral Kingdom.
The Cape Floral Kingdom is a rich and abundant biome that was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2004, with more species of plant being found on the slopes of Table Mountain than in all of Great Britain. It is these plants, known as the shrubland vegetation fynbos - which is unique to the area - that give the gins their unique character and flavor.
This distillery developed its own proprietary process where it charges the pot still with base spirit then layers selected botanicals into specially designed steam baskets within the pot still (adding the fynbos in this manner uses the spirit vapour to extract aromatic oils).
Based in the Western Cape in South Africa, the brand is available in all major retailers in the country and is available in 25 markets around the world, including the US.
Pernod Ricard also highlights Inverroche’s success in job creation (the brand is one of the largest employers in the Stilbaai and Riversdale area, with 70% employees being female) and sustainability initiatives.
African potential
Europe, Asia and North America make up the lion’s share of Pernod Ricard portfolio (together making up 97% of the company’s portfolio, with share split fairly evenly between the three).
But Pernod Ricard has been operating in South Africa for the past 30 years, having established Pernod Ricard South Africa in 1994. The company has since established operations in Angola, Cameroon, DRC, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya, La Réunion, Mozambique, Morocco and Zambia.
Pernod Ricard currently employs around 550 people across the continent, with ‘a clear ambition to lead and shape the premium spirits and champagne industry in Africa, leveraging one of the most comprehensive portfolios in the sector’.
Its brand portfolio in Africa includes global heavyweights such as Jameson Irish whiskey, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Absolut vodka, Beefeater gin, G.H. Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes.
“Africa is a market with great potential for Pernod Ricard,” said Sola Oke, Managing Director of Pernod Ricard Africa.
“Our investment in Inverroche demonstrates the continued commitment of our group to Africa, and our belief in the continent’s potential as a significant white space opportunity in the world for the Premium+ Spirits & Champagne segment. This is an important milestone in realizing our ambition to make Inverroche Africa’s First Global Luxury Spirit Brand.”
