Brand Building and Communications | Booze Business: A Blog Dedicated to the Business of Spirits and Wine

Brand Building and Communications, Stories and Myths

“Bartender, I’d like a hummer.”

December 11, 2013 No Comments

What’s in a name?

A clever, memorable call name for a drink is what makes that drink popular. Where would Seagram’s Seven be without a 7 and 7 or, Peach Schnapps without the Fuzzy Navel?

Here’s one for the books.

Four middle-aged women are out for their every other week ladies night out. They are feeling a bit adventurous this particular evening and are chatting about what to have when the server walks up to their table.

Let’s listen in:

Server: Hi ladies. Can I offer you something to drink?

Lady #1: A glass of chardonnay would be nice.

Lady # 2: (To the group) You know what, girls? I’m going to have a chocolate martini. I’m in that kind of mood.

Lady #1: Great idea… please change my drink to that.

Lady #3: Do you have any of that Rum Chata?

Server: No, I’m afraid not.

Lady #3: Then I’ll just have sex-on-the-beach.

(They all laugh. The server smiles and says) Perfect choice for a cold winter night in Detroit. And you, ma’am?

Lady #4: I want a hummer.

All: A what?

Lady #4: What’s the matter? My friend Louise says her husband begs her for a hummer and I thought I would try one.

Lady #3: Isn’t a hummer a car? How do you go from that to a drink?

Server: (He has become very uncomfortable.) Uh, um, uh, ma’am do you know what a hummer is?

Lady #4: What do you mean? It’s a drink…right?

Server: I suppose… I’ll check with the bartender, but a hummer is also a car… and something that…uh, well something that men really enjoy.

Lady #4: Fiddle sticks. I’d like a hummer.

(The server leaves, goes to the bartender and says) You won’t believe this Sally… I need one sex on the beach, two chocolate martinis and, um, well, don’t get angry, a hummer. Lady at that table says she really needs a hummer.

Bartender: Take your mind out of the gutter! A hummer is a drink born in Detroit that includes rum, Kahlua, ice cream, some ice and all blended together.

Server: Oh.

For those of you who have missed the nuisances of the story, go here.

The Hummer

The Hummer

1-1/2 ounces rum (usually Bacardi)

1-1/2 ounces Kahlúa

2 scoops vanilla ice cream

A couple ice cubes

Blend and serve in a 7-1/2-ounce rocks glass.

As for other meanings of the term “hummer” check with Cosmopolitan Magazine.

(Based on a true event.)

Why Bother Advertising Alcohol? Adweek has the answer.

October 23, 2013 No Comments

Lauren Reeves, who is a comedian and comments on advertising in AdWeek, recently asked this question.

Along the way, she provides a very funny analysis of four different vodka ads. The ads include Grey Goose, Wodka Vodka, Russian Standard and Smirnoff.

Of the four, Wodka has received the most hits on YouTube and is very clever. It’s what often is referred to as good advertising, poor brand sell.

Check out the ads and see what you think. (Come on… you’re working way too hard, you need a diversion.)

Let’s start with Lauren Reeves at Adweek.

Now take a full look at the ads by Grey Goose, Wodka Vodka, Russian Standard and Smirnoff.

Which is your favorite?

I have to tell you – I think any of these are better than the beer ads I’ve seen lately.

(Special shout out thanks to Mike Molnar, Managing Partner at Glow for bringing the videos to my attention.)

Southern Comfort’s Next Chapter — Does the new ad work?

June 11, 2013 1 Comment

Southern Comfort has launched the next chapter in the “Whatever’s Comfortable” campaign that I have been following for about a year (Aug14 and Dec19, 2012 as well as Jan 17, 2013). So far, according to Brown Forman, sales trends have turned around by 6% and the brand grew for the first time since 2008.

This latest effort marks a change in character from the original award winning effort, “Beaches,” which featured an interesting, everyday guy comfortable in his own skin as he casually walks down the beach. Here is the original.

The new ad execution has a different character but the same attitude. “We want to champion consumers to ‘be their awesome selves’ and that attitude comes out through this work,” said Mark Bacon, SVP, Managing Director, Southern Comfort. “We’re comfortable being Southern Comfort and we want our consumers to embody that same attitude about themselves.”

Here’s the ad by Wieden + Kennedy. I enjoyed the original ad a great deal but this one works for me as well.

What do you think? (You can also find it here.)