🥃 Ricard
French pastis created by Paul Ricard in Marseille in 1932; 45% ABV; anise, liquorice and Provençal herbs; part of the Pernod Ricard group.
Ricard is a French pastis, an aniseed drink with liquorice, created in 1932 by Paul Ricard of Marseille. The standard version is 45% ABV. The drink is diluted with water, which turns it cloudy. Today the brand belongs to the Pernod Ricard group, formed in 1975 by the merger of Pernod and Ricard.
History. Paul Ricard created the drink in Marseille in 1932 and founded a company to sell it as a pastis. The Pernod and Ricard groups merged in 1975, according to the history of Pernod Ricard. The Ricard company is still based in Marseille, while production, according to Difford's Guide, is now in Bessan in the south of France. Blending and bottling are also done in Bordeaux and Lille.
How it is made. According to the group's website, the recipe is based on water, alcohol, natural liquorice extract, aniseed, caramelised sugar and a blend of aromatic plants; the producer emphasises star anise, fennel, liquorice and Provençal herbs. Difford's Guide mentions seven Provençal herbs. According to Pernod Ricard, the recipe has probably not changed since 1932.
Serving. The producer recommends diluting 2 centilitres of Ricard with five to seven volumes of water. It is the dilution with water that makes the drink cloudy.
Why this matters to you. Under EU rules, pastis has at least 40% ABV and up to 100 g of sugar per litre, while "Pastis de Marseille" has at least 45% ABV. Water changes the strength of the drink, but not the amount of alcohol in the glass. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1932, Marseille (Paul Ricard); Pernod Ricard — since 1975 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, categories 26 (Pastis) and 27 (Pastis de Marseille) |
| EU category | 26 — pastis; 27 — Pastis de Marseille (from 45% ABV) |
| Raw material | alcohol, natural liquorice extract, anise, star anise, fennel, Provençal herbs |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 45% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Ricard → kind of → 🌿 Anise spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Pernod Ricard
- What it contains
- 🧪 Water, 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🌿 Anise spirits, 🌿 Pastis
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🌿 Pastis de Marseille
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Ricard is absinthe?
No. Ricard is a pastis: an aniseed drink with liquorice. Absinthe has a different composition and strength.
Why does Ricard turn cloudy with water?
Anethole from anise and fennel does not dissolve in water and forms a haze. This is normal for aniseed drinks.
What is the strength of Ricard?
45% ABV for the original and also for the Organic Lemon and Fresh Plants versions, according to the Pernod Ricard website.
Who created Ricard?
Paul Ricard, in Marseille in 1932.
Who owns Ricard?
The Pernod Ricard group, formed in 1975 by the merger of Pernod and Ricard.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🥃 Pernod Ricard — French wine and spirits group headquartered in Paris, formed in 1975 by the merger of Pernod and Ricard; Chivas Regal, Jameson, Absolut, Martell, The Glenlivet.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Passoã · 🥃 Eristoff · 🥃 Asbach Uralt · 🥃 Ginebra San Miguel · 🥃 Camus · 🥃 Pisang Ambon
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Pernod Ricard: Ricard (created in 1932 by Paul Ricard; 45 %; anise, star anise, fennel, liquorice, Provence herbs; 2 cl with 5-7 volumes of water)
- Pernod Ricard: Our history (1932 creation of Ricard; 1975 merger of Pernod and Ricard)
- Difford's Guide: Ricard Pastis de Marseille (1932, Marseille, 45 %, liquorice root, seven Provençal herbs, Bessan, Pernod Ricard)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks, Annex I: categories (26 pastis, 27 pastis de Marseille, 30 bitter, 32 pacharán, 33 liqueur) — legislation.gov.uk copy
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)