Green River Distilling Co., the 10th oldest licensed distillery in Kentucky, unveiled its first modern brand advertising campaign in over 100 years celebrating its steadfast, enduring history with a tongue-in-cheek nod to the past. The national campaign will be rolled out across streaming TV, digital video, social and out-of-home. At the center of the “Raise Your Spirits” campaign is an uncanny spokesperson: G.R., the Ghost of Green River. This spectral ambassador leads the platform with a mission to bring simplicity to a complicated world, embodying the distillery’s deep-rooted heritage and commitment to quality while appealing to modern bourbon enthusiasts with a dash of humor and a splash of the supernatural.
“Green River’s legacy is not just about our storied past, it’s about the spirited persistence that drives us forward,” said Pete Marino, President of Bardstown Bourbon and Green River Distilling Co. “Our industry faces new obstacles and challenges, but we’re leaning into our strong brand and products and investing in accelerating Green River’s growth. The ‘Raise Your Spirits’ brand campaign will help us do that by bringing our distillery’s premium whiskey, timeless heritage, and of course, G.R. the Ghost of Green River, to a national audience.”
The new creative, conceived by Forsman & Bodenfors, launches through an integrated marketing campaign that will reach +10 million consumers nationwide including a paid partnership with Colin Cowherd, the popular sports host and digital personality behind “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” and digital advertisements with Major League Baseball. The advertisements, will run in :30 and :15 spots. The targeted, high-impact thru-the-line rollout also includes point of sale for on- and off-premise and multi-platform social media, bringing Green River’s spirit to a broad audience across channels.
The brand’s first advertising campaign in more than 100 years is centered around the charismatic ghost G.R. who brings a century’s worth of whiskey wisdom to today’s Green River employees, championing simplicity in an overcomplicated world. G.R.’s presence in the campaign is more than just a gimmick; it’s a clever nod to the distillery’s legacy as the “everything-you-need, nothing-you-don’t bourbon.” As a ghost who has lived through so much of whiskey’s history, G.R. brings a wealth of knowledge and opinions to the table. His commitment to the craft and his playful demeanor keeps Green River employees on their toes, even eliciting the occasional eye roll, making him the perfect guide for both bourbon novices and connoisseurs alike.
With a rich history dating back to 1885, Green River Whiskey has overcome prohibition and natural disasters, was once the most advertised whiskey in the world, won Best of Show at the 1900 Paris World’s Fair Exposition and named the official (medicinal) whiskey of the U.S. Marine Hospital for 18 years due to its exceptional quality. Revived in 2022, Green River is now a part of Bardstown Bourbon Company, and is rapidly expanding, poised for distribution in 45 states this year with a range of expressions offering quality and value straight from the Kentucky Bourbon TrailTM.
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