Need A Whiskey To Boycott? Comment Count

Brian

Reader Nick Walstra provides a picture of this enormous Columbus-area billboard analogue for your general disgust:

makersad

Next time you're strolling the aisle looking for a libation, suggest you skip the Maker's Mark.

Comments

MBIB

February 25th, 2009 at 5:07 PM ^

Check out the shit underneath the banner. Doesn't that look like text to you?

Sure looks photoshopped to me.

Not to mention: I've never, not even in Kentucky, seen a Maker's banner that big.

Also, in the NTM department:

Even if it IS a real banner, they promote both Louisville and Kentucky simultaneously. You know, kind of how like lobbyists donate to both parties? Fans of both schools don't seem to mind. Hell, I don't even mind they are HQ'ed in Louisville, and I would order airstrikes on that town in a heartbeat.

And for the love of christ, leave poor "emily" out of it. Filling up the inboxes with diatribes spewing rage about an ad is something I would associate with the animals of ohio.

P.S. -- Bulleit isn't "small batch" any more or less than Maker's is. I don't know what your definition of "mass production" is, but Maker's isn't it.

hathachips

February 25th, 2009 at 8:52 PM ^

I think this means I will have to drink a bottle every time we lose a game? Or win a game? Why not both? That stuff is way to pricey for me anyways, I will stick to the drink of Rita's choice, Black Velvet. Oww!

Ernis

February 25th, 2009 at 10:12 PM ^

Sorry but MM is the best readily-available bourbon for a Manhattan. Still gonna drink it. The ad is funny, anyway... I know for a fact my rate of imbibing increased this fall.

a2bluefan

February 26th, 2009 at 6:37 PM ^

The word MICHIGAN (as used to refer to the U of M) is a registered trademark, registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Additionally and accordingly, University policy prohibits its use without prior permission.

When I was in school, a lawsuit was threatened over this very thing. Seems someone in Columbus was trying to sell t-shirts and did not gain permission. Don't recall if that ever went anywhere.

You guys need to chill the fuck out. It was just a simple question to see if anyone would actually give a reasonable reply. Geez, I guess not.

Chermy23

February 26th, 2009 at 8:51 AM ^

Can anyone confirm if this is real, and not Photoshopped?

Being that Iam an employee of Key Bank and UM fan, someone is going to hear about this.... and not in a good way.

Can anyone confirm that this is a REAL and CURRENT photo??

Thanks

Six Zero

February 26th, 2009 at 9:06 AM ^

Several times I have served as an expert witness in my state's legal system in the context of digitally corrected imagery to be used as potential evidence.

I have no proof, but judging on the both the atmospheric and linear perspective, as well as image sharpness and color temperatures of both the sign itself and the surrounding environment... this is legit. If it's not, the responsible source is pretty good.

Bo inside all of us

February 26th, 2009 at 9:44 AM ^

do i have to make another stupid joke to get y'all off the stupid topic? are tort reform conversations next?

ah hell, here we go...

is that columbus? i doubt it. if it was we'd see a trashcan in the photo and a bunch of 'students' would be eating out of it.

is that columbus? the only thing that long in columbus is line outside a cheerleaders dorm room.

is that columbus? oh yeah, thanks for those awesome years of 2004-2008.

is that columubus? must be, I think I see sweatervest tongue kissing his kitten in one of those windows.

wlvrine

February 26th, 2009 at 11:03 AM ^

The ad is a joke. I get it, we had a bad season. I can take a joke. Also, in good fun, I like to joke back. So.....How can I goof on Makers Mark? I don't have the money to put up funny ads about Makers Mark. I could never find the people responsible for the ads to personally joke on them. Insulting a billboard to its face seems rather stupid. Buying twelve cases of Makers Mark wouldn't be an effective burn. It seems I have no way to trade friendly insults with Makers Mark. I guess I will simply ignore them. But I am only ignoring them "in good fun." It's only a joke when I don't buy their whiskey. Because you know, fuck'em if they can't take a joke.

surroundedincolumbus

February 26th, 2009 at 11:44 AM ^

i'm a michigan grad and my office is in the building across the street. the makers mark banner has been hanging on the side of the keybank building since the weekend.

columbus has a number of "exposed" building sides- tall buildings w/ an empty lot next door- leaving a windowless brick wall open to view. this banner is the latest in a series of "big" building covering billboards put up in the last year. there is a local ad group that specializes in it.

and while this is the first of the "big" ads to take a shot at michigan, this is hardly the first billboard in columbus to make some sort of crack. if i boycotted every business in cowtown that marketed by negative inferences towards michigan, i'd have to move (which i have considered over the last 5 years).

M-Dog

February 26th, 2009 at 3:23 PM ^

They care about us so much, they define themselves by us. They are obsessed with us, no matter what.

When I was in 9th grade, I used to make fun of the girl that sat next to me for every little thing I could. Because I was in awe of her.

Same thing.

The Truth

February 26th, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^

This thread is nothing but a bunch of cry babies lathering denial over each other.
"They aren't making fun of us, they're obsessed with us!"
"That's a stupid ad that we would never do, because we're smart!"
"Columbus is trashy, where as Detroit is a hidden gem!"

Quit crying and accept The Truth of what this ad is:
Michigan's football team is now a joke, and people laugh at jokes.

MGoEOD

February 26th, 2009 at 3:45 PM ^

My uncle works in Columbus (right across the street from "the sign") and told me that it's actually causing quite a bit of confusion.

People aren't sure if this is a dig at Michigan, or if Michigan is actually behind it.

I'm dead serious.

pkdoogs

February 26th, 2009 at 4:01 PM ^

Hi Paul,

Thank you for getting in touch regarding our outdoor ad in Columbus. We thought we'd have a little fun with this awesome college rivalry, but it sure has rubbed some folks the wrong way.

The truth is, we should have know better; as UK and U of L fans in the Bluegrass State we know just how deeply these rivalries run.

I am happy to report that the ad is coming down - the people have spoken and we abide.

Be well and thanks again,
Emily

MiguelSanchez

February 26th, 2009 at 5:27 PM ^

I'm not sure if you guys are quite understanding this. See the point of marketing is to make a product more appealing to potential consumers. The people at Maker's Mark realized that perhaps they could gain some positive feelings in Columbus by placing this ad on the Key Bank building there. This isn't Ohio State fans making fun of you, but instead a business that is based in a different state buying advertising space somewhere were it would garner the most buzz/goodwill. Just thought you guys might need a little brush up on the basics of marketing. You're welcome.
Also, I find it hard to fathom you making fun of Columbus as much as you are considering that Detroit is located in your state. Douches.

Six Zero

February 26th, 2009 at 5:45 PM ^

I was hoping someone could explain what marketing was to us! Because certainly there's not a single soul on this site who knows anything about it or is actually a successful professional in the field.

(And for the record, I'm not even talking about myself.)

Go sit back down in the second row, kid, and read over your notes until class is over.

mat1397

February 26th, 2009 at 5:46 PM ^

Why is it so hard to understand that something like this, designed to appeal to one fan base by poking fun at another fan base, is also likely to alienate the other fan base. If it's all just "marketing," why should anyone care at all, since we're all so sophisticated and can see right through to the fact that this is just a liqour company trying to sell more booze who doesn't give a rats ass about Michigan or OSU. There's no more reason this ad should work to create "buzz" and positive "goodwill" for OSU fans than there is for it to create negative "buzz" and "ill-will" from Michigan fans. They are, in a very public way, associating something negative (to Michigan fans) with their product. In what class in business school do they teach that this is a good idea?

I actually don't care that much about the stupid ad, but you idiots trying to lecture to people about how we don't understand "marketing" are really F'ing annoying.

And yes, I use too many "quotation marks."

wolverinewest

February 26th, 2009 at 5:49 PM ^

says the home state of such great cities as Toledo, Youngstown, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. I'll give it to you, Columbus is a good cowtown by today's rustbelt standards in the midwest. But as someone who is a C-Bus native, I feel perfectly happy to rip the city, as I could not move away soon enough.

And for the campaign, it probably would have generated more goodwill and less negativity had it just said something positive about OSU or referred directly to the 42-7 ass kicking we were handed in November. Instead, it was just a pure dig at one of the best Schools in the country, with one of the most prestigious football programs in the history of the game. Goodwill in a small market is one thing, but there was a lot of outrage among Michigan fans. By my estimation, it may still be have the largest living alumni base of any university in the nation - if that's no longer the case, it's still a shit load of influential people. All and all, not a good move, as proven by the fact that it is coming down asap.

wlvrine

February 26th, 2009 at 6:37 PM ^

"I'm honestly interested in hearing your suggestions...."
"What would the anti-Ohio version say?"

Well just so long as you understand were only joking...maybe some taglines like...

"Buy nothing but the best, Tressel did."
"Goes down easy, like buckeye cheerleaders"
"Don't choke on it, drink it slow ohio"
"Heres to recruiting, especially ohio"
"It tastes even BETTER with copenhagen"
.........sorry, that last one doesn't count. That would actually sell more whiskey in ohio. (is that even possible?)

The Truth

February 26th, 2009 at 7:20 PM ^

This thread is nothing but a bunch of cry babies lathering denial over each other.
"They aren't making fun of us, they're obsessed with us!"
"That's a stupid ad that we would never do, because we're smart!"
"Columbus is trashy, where as Detroit is a hidden gem!"

Quit crying and accept The Truth of what this ad is:
Michigan's football team is now a joke, and people laugh at jokes.

czechpleez

February 26th, 2009 at 10:54 PM ^

Telling jokes about Ohio is base behaviour. The jokes themselves are demeaning, ignorant, rude, crude, and generally not funny. Its the same ol' schtick over and over again. I have heard them so many times that they resemble "Yo Momma" jokes. "Yo Momma" jokes are contemptible as well. I have never once laughed at a "Yo Momma" joke. Anyone who would tell such a joke is uncultured and lacks refinement. And please don't get me started on "Fat jokes." There is nothing funny about Mr. Charles Weis' condition. What we should all do is show a little more respect to our rivals. Instead of making fun of them we should be talking about how wonderful they are. Let us agree from this point forward, to abstain from making derogatory remarks about our rivals and to only speak of them in the hushed tones of quiet reverence that they deserve.