Southern Comfort Ad – What do you think?

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.

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Wine Selection Made Easy?

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.)

Check it out it’s fun.

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Ireland

Jameson, Diageo and Seagram…

Having just returned from a holiday in the Emerald Isle, I thought I would share some thoughts, especially about my favorite topic.

Jameson

Seagram had the distribution rights to this Irish whiskey for quite some time and, frankly, didn’t do much with it. With the exception of St. Patrick’s Day promotions and pushing the Irish Coffee drink, the brand went nowhere for years. I suppose it’s understandable, with millions of scotch sales at the heart of the portfolio, there was little room for this great brand.

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