Vok Beverages launches ‘brave and edgy’ campaign for Bearded Lady bourbon
A transvesite using a urinal is among a series of new ads for bourbon brand Bearded Lady.
A press release from the brand’s owner Vok Beverages calls the ads – which include an image of a woman about to perform a cavity search – “brave and edgy”.
The ads carry the slogan ‘Stay strong’, and will run outdoors, in print and online. But the urinal execution will only run in Maxim and Zoo magazines.
The campaign “was never about being controversial for controversy’s sake”, Vok Beverages marketing manager Chris Illman told Mumbrella.
The campaign, created by CumminsRoss South Australia, is the first for the beverage company since it ceased distribution of Diageo brands in February this year.
Illman said: “We have to compete with Jack Daniels, Jim Beam and Wild Turkey, which have had hundreds of years to build their brands. We only launched in February.”
“Yes, we have pushed the envelope with this campaign to come up with something disruptive, but the idea was never simply about generating PR by being controversial,” he said.
The ads stay true to the name of the brand, Bearded Lady, and its positioning around inner strength, Illman added.
Haha this is ballsy but great. wheres the credits?
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Hilarious. Looks like my Tiger airways flight from hell.
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I’d imagine this is totally against the advertising code as it relates to Alcohol (but luckily you’re not forced to submit print/ooh):
1) The line would likely be rejected as the word “strong” could relate to the liquid – yes, maybe that’s stupid, but those are the regulations
2) The inference is that booze will get you through the situation – probably the worst part about the ads as it relates to the code
3) It’s not that good.
It’s like they’ve never worked in the booze category. But hey, don’t need to follow the rules and anyone could come up with something new…
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@Ryan B ……………you need someone to shout you a drink.
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That body cavity shot gives me shivers…
Funny stuff!
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who was the snapper behind this one? looking good
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80 proof = 40% alcohol
pretty standard for a whisky and not a great selling point. If this is all the product has going for it and I guess so if the powers that be chose it as the usp then good luck!
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It’s just so obviously A) trying to win attention for the agency B) blatantly irresponsible C) derivative in the extreme
Groucho – put some tobacco with it fella
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Why doesn’t the code apply to print/ooh?
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I’m with Ryan on this one… AAPS approved this? Stunned if so…
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Looks like it’s going to be a cheap, crappy bourbon but I like the campaign. Great visuals.
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Very good advertising! Makes a bold but memorable impression. I’ll give it a go!
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You have to be pissed to get it
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If there’s little or no point of difference, showboat it 🙂
The only thing that I found disappointing was the lack of actual bearded ladies 🙂
I think it’s a great campaign, well executed from a first person perspective in different scenarios.
Yes, the message can be conflicting with existing rules on alcohol advertising. But hey, some of these rules should be changed. After all, society evolves, why can’t the system?
xx
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To funny!! This ad is awesome. Check out my friend, the stunner in the middle seat sitting in the back row!
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Check him out at http://www.facebook.com/misshighskye
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“was never about being controversial for controversy’s sake”
How stupid are Australians? Of course it was, following on from other ads using Drag Queens portraying ‘bearded ladies’ and snipes at Transsexuals and Transgender folk. 90% of non-TG/TS people seeing these ads wont see a DQ but a TG person. The makers were looking for a backlash from the TG Community to help publicise these shoddy ads.
They are mere tripe and almost copycat. Not original at all.
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Beautiful cavity search hand Rhonda.
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