Absolut Greyhound

I’m not usually a very good judge of what constitutes good advertising and what doesn’t. I do know that if the commercial is good enough and, I’m afraid, sometimes too loud and obnoxious, I remember what the product is and thus, for the pusher at least, an effective advertisement. My subconscious is just as susceptible as everyone else’s to outside, and sometimes subliminal, forces.

I am fairly proud of the fact that I can watch a favorite television program, say, The Big Bang Theory or NCIS and, afterwards, not be able to recall any of the commercials. If one does catch my eye it’s got to be, well, pretty eye catching.

A case in point: Absolut, although a very familiar brand of vodka, is not normally on my shopping list. If I do buy vodka (very seldom) I’m usually swayed by the most fetching bottle design which, I guess, is part of the effectiveness of advertising, albeit one on-the-spot in the liquor store. Why I’m mentioning this is a new commercial for Absolut Greyhound, which is fusion vodka (with pink grapefruit) that I will probably never buy.

But what a commercial! And what a great video of it they’ve posted on YouTube! The digital special effects are very cool and the location, costumes and make-up are mind bending. I don’t see how any of it has anything to do with vodka but, hey, I remember the product! Also, the fact that dog racing is an abomination has very little to do with it. They are selling a product. And I’m buying into the commercial even though the product will probably never grace my liquor cabinet because, frankly, the bottle itself isn’t pretty enough.