Let’s Talk About “Smooth”
It may be the most ubiquitous descriptor in drinks. Is it also the most reviled?
- story: Danny Chau
- photo: Mallory Heyer
Can Elyx Fashion a New Image for Luxury Vodka?
With Elyx, Absolut has made headway in a craft cocktail world that has traditionally shunned premium vodka. Chris Crowley on what Elyx's messaging signals about the changing notion of luxury…
- story: Chris Crowley
- photo: Phil Barton
What’s up With Liquor Brands and Little Cars?
Though the use of branded vehicles has a long tradition in advertising, the spirits industry in particular has turned the concept into a modern trend. Lizzie Munro on liquor's "little…
- story: Lizzie Munro
- photo: Multiple
Who Is the Millennial Drinker?
In the perpetual race to appeal to millennials, the stories that alcohol brands use to market their products has unearthed a number of discernible profiles of the millennial drinker—from the…
- story: Christopher Ross
- illustration: Vidhya Nagarajan
Inside Campari’s Fantastical Pin-Up Calendar
Campari's annual calendar has arrived Stateside, giving Americans a taste of the superstar-fueled affair that's been a major event in Milan since 2000. Talia Baiocchi on the campaign, its stars—from…
- story: Talia Baiocchi
- photos: Multiple
Non-Alcoholic Beer, or How Not to Make It In America
Big Beer's heaviest hitters are spending millions on R&D for new non-alcoholic beer brands, buoyed by the success of the category in Europe and the Middle East. But America remains…
- story: Regan Hofmann
- photo: Jitze Couperus
Blue Moon Being Sued For Advertising Itself As a Craft Beer
One San Diego man feels MillerCoors is lying to us all by calling Blue Moon a "craft" beer. According to Quartz, Evan Parent feels strongly enough that he filed a class-action…
- story: Joanna Harkins
Bud Light Takes Heat for “Up For Whatever” Campaign
Bud Light has been the recipient of much criticism in light of their "Up for Whatever" campaign, reports the New York Times. The campaign features bottle labels stating that "The…
- story: Danielle Bergere
Spirit Chasers: Why Big Beer Can’t Resist the Cocktail
Following the massive success of Lime-A-Rita, a new crop of Big Beer "cocktails"—from the tequila-flavored Desperados to Bud Light's new MIXXTAILS—is hoping to ride the coattails of the cocktail renaissance.…
- story: Regan Hofmann
- photo: Bud Light
Budweiser’s Superbowl Ad Slams Craft Beer, Pumpkin-Loving Basics
According to AdAge, Bud’s hard-hitting Superbowl ad could potentially be a game-changer for the company’s branding and sales. The controversial ad boldly introduces Bud as a “macro” beer that is brewed…
- story: Danielle Bergere