Promotions and Product Launch

[anil]

Vodka, Rum, Gin companies from time to time have promotions and introduction of new brands at various bars/pubs. Never for Single Malts I've typically seen free T-shirts, free drinks, and stuff like that.

What are they like in the bars/pubs or elsewhere that you have witnessed or experienced. ?

[beans]

They can be strange, silly or fun. We've only had a couple of launch parties but many promos.

Our rep brought in these bongo beating purple "jumping beans" (they were clad in a head to toe purple unitard that even covered their head) some years back when we hosted Absolut Kurrant. They beat the bongos, jumped around, shouted and scared the crap out of 85% of the customers. Did I forget to mention they were very loud?!

Captain Morgan comes around all of the time during the summer. For awhile they had a guy in a really wrinkled polyester and velcro get up. He had a penchant for being there ever Saturday afternoon and ended up walking around and partying with the Hawaiian Tropic bikini contest girls, becoming progressively sloshed.

Then Captain Morgan had the girls with the polaroid cameras to take your picture with the Captain, in the same but less wrinkled get up. They often served tiny samples of mixed drinks.

Miller Lite girls, Jäger girls, the Cuervo bus in our parking lot, bleh, it all becomes a circus of events and all eventually blur together.

I also remember Absolut Mandarin and Skyy Citrus launch parties on our upper deck. (Some really nice tip $$$$ from the reps).

The freebies are all dependent upon the particular state's liquor laws. oHIo changed not very long ago and now limits the give away items not to exceed the cost of those annoyingly blinking logo'd pins/light necklaces or bottle openers, money clips, key chains or temporary tatoos. No more decent ball caps, shirts or useful drink coolers! The shirts were always cool and we got the really good ones that were usually embroidered golf shirts or long sleeved button downs.

Ah, the good ol' days.