on fiah
Need A Whiskey To Boycott?
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Reader Nick Walstra provides a picture of this enormous Columbus-area billboard analogue for your general disgust:
Next time you're strolling the aisle looking for a libation, suggest you skip the Maker's Mark.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:16 AM | 
What is this, lent?
What is this, lent?
February 26th, 2009 at 4:37 PM |
What would the anti-Ohio
What would the anti-Ohio
What would the anti-Ohio version say? "Maybe next year we can hope to be 2-7 against their coach if we get really lucky"? "At least we have a better NFL team"? "At least our state's economy is better"? "At least we used to beat them"? "There is no way they are beating us 12 years in a row"?
I'm struggling to come up with it here. I'm honestly interested in hearing your suggestions....
February 25th, 2009 at 10:19 AM |
Damn it...
Damn it...
I love Makers Mark...
"It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine!!"
February 25th, 2009 at 10:23 AM |
That is part of what makes
That is part of what makes
That is part of what makes O$U what they are. Even w/ all their current success over us they still have some sort of complex about us.
I can already see all the Buckeye fans becoming belligerent on Maker's Mark and verbally abusing everything that walks by. Tragic.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:30 AM |
Indeed, they are obsessed
Indeed, they are obsessed
Indeed, they are obsessed with us. The Schmucks hate us more than we hate them.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:39 AM |
Yes, the fans are obsessed
Yes, the fans are obsessed
Yes, the fans are obsessed with us. And you know this because an ad company put up an anti-Michigan banner. That's definitely fan obsession, not a marketing ploy.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:41 AM |
Perspective
Perspective
Before you get all uppity about OSU's issues, may I remind you that this discussion was started by a call to boycott a brand of whiskey due to a perceived slight to our football team.
People in glass houses...
February 25th, 2009 at 10:53 AM |
....sink ships.
....sink ships.
....sink ships.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:55 AM |
...gather no moss.
...gather no moss.
...gather no moss.
"Come on, you Wolverines!"
February 25th, 2009 at 10:58 AM |
...are next to godliness.
...are next to godliness.
...are next to godliness.
February 25th, 2009 at 12:24 PM |
Agreed. Strange Indeed.
Agreed. Strange Indeed.
Strange also from an historical perspective. When this Ohio - Michigan rivalry started in the 1800's, it was Michigan with the inferiority complex. Ohio had more people, was richer, more developed, was a state (rather than a territory) first, delayed Michigan's entry into statehood, and stole Michigan's land (that's still a topic of dispute, actually).
Over the years, though, our football team has been more successful. We still own the overall matchup between us and them, don't we? (that's a real question)
Most importantly, they will always know that U of M students are smarter than OSU students. The fuckeyes will never feel completely superior, no matter how much they win and we lose.
“We accept reality so readily, perhaps because we sense that nothing is real.”
February 25th, 2009 at 12:36 PM |
You know, those last two
You know, those last two
You know, those last two sentences, you really should have paused and thought for a second before putting them together, one right after the other.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:26 AM |
So apparently Maker's Mark
So apparently Maker's Mark
So apparently Maker's Mark doesn't care about alienating a large potential customer base?
Brilliant marketing.
"The difference between a man and a boy is, a boy wants to grow up to be a fireman, but a man wants to grow up to be a giant monster fireman."
- Jack Handey
February 25th, 2009 at 10:42 AM |
Speaking of marketing
Speaking of marketing
You have to remember that this is in Columbus, and Ohio State does not have a fantastic business program like Michigan does. They are too ignorant to realize that this is atrocious marketing. Their marketing school is basically nothing compared to others, so what can be expected of them? Eloquence, common sense? That will be the day.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:54 AM |
You do realize that it
You do realize that it
You do realize that it probably wasn't OSU's marketing program that put up the banner. It may have been an outside firm not associated with the school. Call me crazy, but that may have been what happened.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:55 AM |
Do you really think...
Do you really think...
...the marketing people from Maker's Mark are all OSU grads? That companies hire people from the local university when pursuing a one time regional ad campaign?
Give me piss troughs or give me death.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:02 AM |
Why yes....yes he does.
Why yes....yes he does.
Why yes....yes he does.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:27 AM |
More Bad News
More Bad News
If you're really into the boycott thing, and you like Bourbon at all, you'll be disappointed to know that Makers is owned by Beam Global Spirits, which also owns such brands as Jim Beam (okay, obv), Knob Creek, Basil Hayden's, Old Crow... so if you need a bourbon fix while staying true to the boycott, you'll have to pay close attention to what you pick up.
http://beamglobal.com/cs/brands
This will have a permanent impact on my bourbon drinking tendencies. Woodford Reserve, here I come.
This is Michigan.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:48 AM |
Also part of a larger brand consortium, Fortune Brands,
Also part of a larger brand consortium, Fortune Brands,
that has a number of major golf brands including Titleist and FootJoy.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:27 AM |
May I suggest Bulleit
May I suggest Bulleit
May I suggest Bulleit Bourbon? It's a comparable price point, and much better anyway. Maker's is mass-produced, Bulleit is still small-batch. (I'm not employed by Bulleit)
February 25th, 2009 at 10:32 AM |
?
?
What the hell is with all the fruit salad on top of the drink?
No radio. Nothing of value.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:38 AM |
Agreed
Agreed
A fine recommendation. There are many bourbons that don't have the same cache as Makers or Knob Creek that are exceptional.
This is Michigan.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:56 AM |
Excellent choice
Excellent choice
I really like Bulleit Bourbon and suggest that others try it as well.
... when I see some plays that Mike (Martin) makes in practice, I be like dang. - Jibreel Black
February 25th, 2009 at 11:10 AM |
Yeah, that one is fine, my
Yeah, that one is fine, my
Yeah, that one is fine, my cousin works in the booze division of Diageo so I've had that and George Dickel (their Tennessee whiskey) a number of times.
Other ones if you really insist on boycotting:
Buffalo Trace. Their single barrel, called Elmer T. Lee, is about the same price as a bottle of Makers. The regular Buffalo Trace is good too. They also make Eagle Rare and a number of others.
Buffalo Trace also now does the distilling for Old Rip van Winkle, which includes Pappy van Winkle and some other good stuff.
The aforementioned Woodford Reserve is always a good choice.
I don't think that sign would stop me from drinking Booker's though. I tend to go with either one of the Buffalo Trace or Woodford for my regularly priced bourbons as it is, and also keep a bottle of stuff at a higher price point around, of which Booker's is, though I'm looking around for my next bottle currently and usually switch it up.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:12 AM |
I forgot about Buffalo Trace.
I forgot about Buffalo Trace.
I forgot about Buffalo Trace. That's good - I've only had the "normal" variety.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:39 AM |
The difference between
The difference between
The difference between Columbus and Ann Arbor is that Columbus is a major city which treats the Buckeye's like a pro team. Ann Arbor is a medium sized city which is split between being a suburb of Detroit and a college town. If they ran the same ad in Detroit it would be about the Packers or something.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
February 25th, 2009 at 12:43 PM |
Good point
Good point
...although "major city" is a bit of a stretch.
It's no good for a man to work in cages.
Hits the town, he drinks his wages.
--The Clash
February 25th, 2009 at 7:22 PM |
It's the 15th largest city in
It's the 15th largest city in
It's the 15th largest city in the country... larger than Boston, Seattle, Washington, Denver, Atlanta and more. You could fit two St Louis's in Columbus.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
February 25th, 2009 at 8:56 PM |
Large, sure. Major, eh?
Large, sure. Major, eh?
Large, sure. Major, eh? That's all I'm saying.
C-bus ranks 32 in metropolitan areas with 1.7m people. I live in Richmond which ranks 43 with 1.2m and still wouldn't talk it up as a "major city" to anyone I meet. I would admit it has a lot of people, though.
(St. Louis is 18 with 2.8m BTW)
It's no good for a man to work in cages.
Hits the town, he drinks his wages.
--The Clash
February 25th, 2009 at 10:40 AM |
that's funny. i'm sure OSU
that's funny. i'm sure OSU
that's funny. i'm sure OSU fans are more of the Old Crow type.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:22 PM |
Nope
Nope
Seagrams 7.
not just "douchey" MGoBlog user, but now TRUSTED MGoBlog user
February 25th, 2009 at 10:41 AM |
OSU, MSU, they're all the same.....
OSU, MSU, they're all the same.....
My theory as to why opposing rivals consider Michigan and Notre Dame fans "arrogant" is because we don't stoop to this level. Hear me out....
We don't care enough about our rivals to EVER do something like this. We don't go to basketball games upon being hired and tell everyone we're going to defeat the rival. We don't put up countdown clocks in our locker-room targeting the next time we play our rival. We're Michigan. We want to beat whoever we play. Most of the time we even expect (until recently) that we can beat whoever we play.
THAT is what bugs them. We're above this sort of stupidity. They hate that. I think they'd respect us more if we were drunken baffoons who drive through their city throwing bags of flaming cat poop.
I will continue to take the high road on all things rivalry. Hopefully most Michigan fans will do the same. We'll let the other guys obsess over their opponents while we obsess over our own team.
AC-1997
February 25th, 2009 at 10:44 AM |
Do you think OSU put that up?
Do you think OSU put that up?
Do you think OSU put that up? It's a billboard meant to appeal to their fanbase... if they put that up on Main Street in Ann Arbor people would love it.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
February 25th, 2009 at 11:02 AM |
No OSU didn't put it up, but
No OSU didn't put it up, but
No OSU didn't put it up, but someone in the marketing at Maker's Mark knew something about their target market in Columbus and decided this is something that would appeal to them.
I'm sure people would laugh if it was put up in AA and like it but I'm sure whoever is in charge of the area would know and think that most Michigan fans would consider ourselves above such things and would decide to take some other type of marketing angle. I may be wrong and this amount of thought is not put into these things but there has to be a reason you don't see ribbing of rivals or scores plastered on billboards around AA. We prefer the national media to take care of that.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:07 AM |
It's a joke man, get over
It's a joke man, get over
It's a joke man, get over yourself. If anyone is "above" a joke they must have serious emotional issues. It's a clever joke, targeted at OSU fans (in Columbus, not Ann Arbor) to get them to feel a connection with the product. They're just trying to make sales, don't take it personal. Jesus.
No question, Jim.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:14 AM |
This has nothing to do w/ me
This has nothing to do w/ me
This has nothing to do w/ me getting over myself. My point was simply that I do not think you would see something like that in AA. Market research of south eastern Michigan would probably show that there isn't vast expanses of obsessed Michigan fans being there is two major universities and a large city w/ 4 major sports teams. Unlike central Ohio where people have the Buckeyes and maybe the Blue Jackets.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:10 AM |
Yeah, ok. Above it. Right.
Yeah, ok. Above it. Right.
Yeah, ok. Above it. Right. Never seen a "Fuck the Buckeyes" shirt in Ann Arbor. Never.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
February 25th, 2009 at 11:14 AM |
I am nowhere near above it
I am nowhere near above it
I am nowhere near above it and I doubt most rational humans would be either. mmmm...tastes like humor.
February 25th, 2009 at 1:37 PM |
I wonder what would happen if
I wonder what would happen if
I wonder what would happen if we woke up tomorrow and there was Makers Mark sign hanging off of the Ford Building or some other like it that was in some way bashing tO$U. I really have to think that we would laugh and giggle about it and write it off as just a joke and a marketing ad. This is a company's marketing ploy and nothing more than that. Let's not make it into the holocaust because Makers Mark made fun of us. remember everybody we went 3-9. For how many years now have we been kicking everybody's asses and now it is coming back to haunt us a little bit. Just smile and go with it.
"You're making too much out of this, I didn't go to college and look at me, I'm kick-ass"
February 25th, 2009 at 11:32 AM |
Yes, we would "stoop" to this...
Yes, we would "stoop" to this...
If OSU went 3-9 and some rum company put up a billboard like that in Ann Arbor or Detroit, we ABSOLUTELY would enjoy it and smile. Lord knows I would.
Of course, OSU fans would go batshit, but then I'm sure some M fan like you would, in your most condescending and arrogant tone, explain that it was "just a joke" and it wasn't meant to offend OSU fans and it was only a regional ad blah blah blah. I am convinced this would happen.
When the shoe is on the other foot, there is no evidence to suggest we would behave any differently.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:03 PM |
There is evidence that "we" don't behave differently, and it
There is evidence that "we" don't behave differently, and it
wasn't all too long ago.
Anyone recall all of the schadenfreude regarding Notre Dame in 2007?
February 25th, 2009 at 1:30 PM |
for the most part I agree
for the most part I agree
for the most part I agree with your post but in all fairness I really do not think that tO$U had anything to do with this.
"You're making too much out of this, I didn't go to college and look at me, I'm kick-ass"
February 25th, 2009 at 10:43 AM |
Send a Complaint to the company..
Send a Complaint to the company..
February 25th, 2009 at 10:47 AM |
Oh come on...
Oh come on...
This is actually pretty funny. We'd love it if there was a similar ad in Ann Arbor.
"Come on, you Wolverines!"
February 25th, 2009 at 10:53 AM |
I don't find it funny
I don't find it funny
and think its poor marketing to offend your customers (especially the largest alumni network on the planet, and one of the largest fan bases).
I guess their marketing guy/ firm went to OSU business school.
... when I see some plays that Mike (Martin) makes in practice, I be like dang. - Jibreel Black
February 25th, 2009 at 10:55 AM |
They are advertising to OSU
They are advertising to OSU
They are advertising to OSU fans, numb nuts.
No question, Jim.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:58 AM |
You can advertise to a
You can advertise to a
You can advertise to a certain market without offending another one...This is poor marketing..
"It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine!!"
February 25th, 2009 at 11:00 AM |
If you're offended by this
If you're offended by this
If you're offended by this you have bigger problems to deal with. Go get some help sir.
No question, Jim.
February 25th, 2009 at 11:00 AM |
The thing is, 99% of Michigan
The thing is, 99% of Michigan
The thing is, 99% of Michigan fans will never see that billboard. MM could (and might) throw the same billboard up all over metro Detroit tomorrow.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
February 25th, 2009 at 10:57 AM |
This isn't on national TV...
This isn't on national TV...
This isn't on national TV... it's an ad in Columbus that you would have never seen if Brian hadn't snapped this picture. And guess what!!!!!!!!!!! I bet they probably have no affiliation with either school! They just want people in Ohio to buy their whiskey. I'll bet $99 they'd put the same ad up in Ann Arbor if it were the same size as Columbus.
When your team is winning, be ready to be tough, because winning can make you soft. On the other hand, when your team is losing, stick by them. Keep believing. -- Bo Schembechler
It's gonna be tough to give it up, this stuff is like water for me. I can switch over to Knob Creek, but I'm not gonna enjoy it (as much). Let's hope AA gets an anti-Ohio version soon so it can all balance out.
MGOBlergh