It's always good to name things after memorable things. And for anyone who ever spent any time in the south of France the name of Paul Ricard will forever be associated with high octane afternoons of ice, anise and cloudy glasses as well as memories. He, of course, is the "Ricard" of Pastis fame. That infamous French aniseed aperitif consumed all over the Mediterranean and beyond. Less known in the USA than its former competitor (and now sister brand) Pernod perhaps, but for the aficionados among us Ricard was and is "le top".
Paul Ricard was born in 1909 in Sainte-Marthe, which was then but a small village north of Marseille. Passionate about chemistry and design, he enrolled in the Beaux-Arts (Academy of Fine Arts). At the age of 17, this son of a wine merchant learned the trade at his father’s side. Going from café to café, rubbing elbows with customers, he was inspired to invent his “own” pastis. Indeed, in Marseille in the 1930s, every bar owner made his own anise-based liqueur. But the inconsistent taste and cloying sweetness of the mixtures wasn’t pleasing to connoisseurs. Paul Ricard was determined to find the “ideal” formula.
For over a year, he tested countless recipes. Every night in a make-shift laboratory, the young man would macerate fennel, aniseed and Provençal herbs, distilling, filtering, etc. His aim: to find the perfect flavor, one that captured the pure, fresh taste of aniseed. Finally, in 1932, his original recipe was born. Paul Ricard gave it his own name, 'Ricard’, and set it apart it from all competitors by defining it as “the true Pastis of Marseille”. The quality and fresh taste of his aperitif are the result of this skillful (and secret) blend of aniseed, licorice and aromatic herbs. Today, Ricard is the no. 1 anise-based spirit in the world.
Paul also happened to have a love of motor racing. And so he took some of the oodles of loot he accrued from peddling high end moonshine to the masses and built a racetrack just north of Marseille. It opened in 1969 to much applause. The most modern, safest, and coolest track in its day. He had applied the same attention to detail and desire for perfection to the track as he had his anise. And the fact that it made for winter testing in the sun was all the better.
So what better place to lend its name to the new DQ leather jacket. The Ricard. For riding, driving, and steering yourself through the finest times in life. Get one while you can...
DQ's Ricard jacket is manufactured for Duncan Quinn by Vanson Leathers, a legend in the motorcycling world and renowned for their relentless attention to authenticity and quality. Each jacket is individually numbered and comes with a repair guarantee.
Hand Built. Made to last. An insistence on highest quality materials, starting with Vansons secret proprietary tanning and leather finishing. Then, cut and sewn by hand in their workshop in Fall River, MA, USA. If you want “Industrial Strength”, don’t settle for anything less than a Vanson.
Some people are passionate about what they do, others just show up. To know what kind of people we are here at Vanson Leathers, all you have to do is look at a Vanson jacket. The quality of the leather is obvious. The care that goes into tanning and finishing and working the leather is evident from the consistency of the color and finish. The craftsmanship can be seen in how well everything lines up. The zips, snaps, laces, Velcro, liners, and even the logos are also perfectly aligned. It takes people who are passionate about what they do to do this stuff. Inferior clones pour out of low-wage mass production factories; but a genuine Vanson requires skill, handwork and a level of artistry we don’t see very much these days.
There are 49 steps involved in putting together our simplest jacket…and up to 126 steps in the construction of our most complicated pieces. Each is done by hand.Sure, you may have other lower-cost, lesser-quality options. But if you want the real thing, a practical legacy investment that you can proudly pass down, an “Heirloom”, don’t sell yourself short. Make a statement. Go for the Vanson. Think of the passion of the people who put it together for you. Wear it with pride.
This item qualifies for free domestic shipping. Upon order, you can expect to receive it in 1-4 business days.
We truly believe in our products and use only the highest quality of methods and materials. All our merchandise is truly unique, designed by us, in small batches, by the best artisans in the world (most who hold royal warrants). We believe that you will love our products as much as we do!
But sometimes things don’t quite work out. We get it, it's okay to change your mind. In the unfortunate circumstance that you need to return or exchange your item please email maggie@duncanquinn.com and we will be sure to assist.
Retail merchandise from the shop that is returned within 30 days may be exchanged for merchandise of equal value or store credit. Please note that items must be returned in their original packaging, unused, unaltered, in the same state they were received--without damages, blemishes, alterations, or signs of wear.
How much does shipping cost?
We are pleased to offer FREE SHIPPING on all domestic orders over $100.00 (USD). Orders under $99.00 will be charged a flat rate $10.00 shipping fee.
When will I receive my order?
In most cases your order will be packaged and shipped the same day when placed before 6:00PM EST Tuesday through Saturday. All orders placed after 6:00PM EST, or on Sunday/Monday will be sent out the following business day.
We use the best shipping method available based on your location and send either USPS Priority Mail (1-3 Business Days) or FedEx Ground (1-5 Business Days), unless otherwise specified.
What if I need my items sooner?
If you would like overnight or expedited delivery please make a note at checkout along with your contact number and we will do our best to accommodate. Please note overnight or expedited delivery may incur an additional charge. We will contact you with an exact price and for additional payment if needed once your order is received.
Does Duncan Quinn ship internationally?
We offer international shipping to all 195 countries across the globe using FedEx or DHL.
How much is International shipping?
We offer a flat $75.00 shipping rate on all international orders under $500.00. Orders over $500.00, because of the additional weight and value, are offered with a flat rate shipping fee of $150.00.
