Ad Age magazine gave the “creativity pick of the day” award (Aug. 30) to Murphy’s Beer for an ad that goes one up on Budweiser.
It seems that Bud released a summer app that lowers the price of beer, as the weather gets hotter. Huh? Obviously Budweiser doesn’t know very much about Irish weather. On our trip there in July, it was cool and raining most of the time. For me at least, that was a wonderful part of being in Ireland.
Murphy’s, on the other hand, knows that summer means lots of rain and, since they are Irish, came up with their own weather-related app. They give you a free pint of stout when it rains. Read more…
New York magazine’s Fall Preview issue has predictions about what some NYC bartenders/mixologists think are the most promising drink trends for the fall.
It’s been some time since “behind the bar experts” have taken me to task for a blog posting (and I kind of miss being yelled at), so, here are their predictions.
Let me know what you think (he said with trepidation).
The first prediction mentioned is that mezcal will “break through.” Frankly, I’ve been predicting that myself for a number of years. While I’m not an aficionado of tequila or mezcal, the latter has a small batch product quality not to mention allure and mystique – and the worm BS is not what I’m talking about.
Unfortunately, for Mezcal to break through it will take some clout and marketing support that most producers don’t have. Nevertheless, I continue to think it will grow.
My take: I agree with the forecast.
The second prediction is that cognac will become a cocktail ingredient. The magazine argues that the ceremonial “from the bottle” drinking patterns of rappers and hedge fund types will give way to its use in mixed drinks. Read more…
Gallup just released their annual survey of US drinking patterns. Earlier this summer, NPR published the results of a study on where and how Americans spent money on booze. Let’s put the pieces together.
Who drinks?
Pretty much unchanged from the past, Gallup reports that two-thirds (66%) of Americans drink alcohol, consuming just over 4 drinks a week.
Last year the number was 64%; the same in 1992 and 1982. The earliest measure reported was in 1939 with 58% alcohol drinkers.For decades, then, two thirds say they drink alcohol. With roughly 200 million Americans of legal drinking age, that means there are 132 million drinkers.
Harvard Business Review blog had an article by Bill Lee, President of the LeeConsulting Group called Marketing is Dead. The thoughts and ideas are worth sharing.
His view of marketing is that the “traditional” definition and tools are no longer totally appropriate to this new environment. Let’s take a look at his evidence, which consists of three areas.
First, as Mr. Lee puts it, the “buyer’s decision journey” has changed from passive information coming to consumers (amidst tens of thousands a day) to interactive information gathering requested by consumers. The traditional journey, which begins with awareness and familiarity, continues, but now those decision steps are based on Internet searches, word-of-mouth, consumer reviews and other people to people efforts. Read more…
Buffalo Trace Newsletter reprinted a story about a tomato wine made in Quebec. So, I decided to check it out.
The vintner (tomatoes grow on vines, right?) is named Pascal Miche and he has sold 34,000 bottles a year for the past 3 years. In North America, he can legally call his product “wine.”
He produces a dry wine and a mellow wine that supposedly is close in taste to Pineau des Charentes from a family recipe that’s been a secret for four generations. It’s called Omerto and sells for about $25 for a 375 ml.
He’s looking for distribution in the US and some countries in Western Europe like France. Good luck with that, especially since only alcohol beverages made from fermented grapes can be called wine in France.
Here’s a short video on the wine. (You’ll have to click on the link to watch it on YouTube. The video is from AFP, Agence France-Presse.)
The ad below was just released by Brown Forman’s Southern Comfort brand. It’s the first effort by Wieden + Kennedy in New York. The campaign is called “Whatever’s Comfortable” and runs on YouTube and the brand’s Facebook page. It will also run on national TV.
I’ll give you my take on it but first, have a look.
My informal and very unscientific survey revealed a mixed reaction. “I don’t get it,” said one of my participants, “What’s the message… where’s the brand sell?”
On the other hand, there were those who – like myself – thought that it’s excellent on a number of levels. He has an “everyday/everyman look” and the message of whatever is comfortable comes through loud and clear. Whether you like it or not, you have to give it an A+ on the production values – the glasses and shoes he is wearing, the dog, the other people and, above all, the music is well chose.
Oh, and about the brand sell in the ad coming at the very end, all I can say is if you’re watching this on social media, you know the brand because you clicked on it.
I came across a flow chart that I just had to share.
It comes from Wine Folly (link) and has helpful ideas about how to choose a wine.
As you go through the chart, you wander through a series of intended uses, situations, occasions and personal preferences. Such as:
Is it for personal use? If so, drinking in public? Drinking alone? Dinner? Is the dinner from a microwave? Did you like to eat dirt as a child? Are you into cults? Do you like to spray butter in your mouth? (You need a buttery chardonnay) Are you eloping? (Have a Riesling or Chenin Blanc… no idea why.)
Is it for someone else? Do you know them well? Is it an event or occasion? If it’s a bachelor (ette) party, bring whiskey or vodka. If it’s an art opening the suggestion is to bring 2-buck chuck (“they rarely have a sense of taste”). Beach BBQ? (Forget it, no glass on the beach.)
