Spunky Octogenarian Pushes Smirnoff's New 'Ice Electric'

The Non-Carbonated, Neon-Colored Liquid Breaks New Booze Ground

Published On
Apr 18, 2016

Editor's Pick

Smirnoff Ice has picked 87-year-old Instagram sensation Baddie Winkle to plug a new line extension that looks a lot like an alcoholic sports drink.

The drink, called Smirnoff Ice Electric, is a first-of-its-kind noncarbonated flavored malt beverage that was created to appeal to music and dance fans, particularly devotees of electronic dance music, or EDM. While most flavored malt beverages are bubbly, Ice Electric is decidedly not. It also comes in a resealable 16-ounce plastic bottle. The formulation and on-the-go packaging is geared toward consumers who might want to drink while dancing, rather than take a break to pop open a beer, according to Diageo-owned Smirnoff.

"It's completely unique to what exists in the segment right now," said Heather Boyd, brand director of flavored malt beverages for Diageo-Guinness USA. "It doesn't spill and it's noncarbonated, so you can shake it and it won't spurt around." And unlike beer, it won't leave you bloated, she added.

Debut flavors Electric Berry and Electric Mandarin are brightly colored with a look and taste that resembles Gatorade or Powerade. Despite the similarities, Ms. Boyd said Ice Electric will not be marketed like a boozy sports drink. "It's not a performance drink; it's not a sports drink; it's not an energy drink," she said.

But the campaign, by 72andSunny, does position the drink as something to imbibe while active, specifically while dancing. Ads show Ms. Winkle wearing a metallic blue bodysuit and boogying down with many people half her age. The tagline is "Keep It Moving."

Booze brands typically use younger spokespeople. But Ms. Winkle, whose real name is Helen Ruth Van Winkle, has a social media following as strong as any A-list millennial celeb. She has 1.8 million followers on Instagram, where her tagline is "Stealing your man since 1928." Her page is full of pictures of her in revealing outfits and shirts carrying provocative sayings like "Everybody must get stoned." Last year, she hung out backstage with Miley Cyrus as the singer rehearsed for the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. The New York Daily News has called Ms. Winkle an "over-the-hill rebel" who "has been the cool grandma of Instagram users."

Smirnoff Ice Electric is also running spots starring deaf dance teacher Chris Fonseca. He was recently used in a campaign for the core Smirnoff brand called "We're Open." It is part of Smirnoff's push to "celebrate diversity and move people to be more inclusive," Smirnoff Marketing Director Julie Bramham said in a statement in March.

Read more about the campaign over at AdAge.com.

Credits

Date
Apr 18, 2016
Brand :
Smirnoff
Client :
Smirnoff
Agency :
72andSunny
Senior Vice President :
Matt Bruhn
Senior Vice President, Content :
Tim Parkinson
Director, Global Marketing :
Ignacio Navarro
Global Senior Brand Manager :
Eileen Hanna
Executive Creative Director :
Guillermo Vega
Managing Director :
James Townsend
Director, Production :
Lora Schulson
Senior Producer :
Kim Cross
Production Coordinator :
Emma Ogiens
Creative Director :
Adolfo Alcala
Creative Director :
Brandon Pierce
Senior Writer :
Mikio Bradley
Senior Designer :
David Goss
Designer :
Danny Demers
Junior Designer :
Pedro Sampaio
Junior Writer :
Colin Frawley
Group Brand Director :
Karla Stewart
Brand Director :
Andy Silva
Senior Brand Manager :
Emily Hoyle
Brand Coordinator :
Sara Consagra
Business Affairs Manager :
Laura Fraser
Director, Strategy :
Tom Callard
Director :
Zachary Heinzerling
Executive Producer :
Melissa Culligan
Director, Photography :
Stuart Winecoff
Line Producer :
Veronica Balta
Editorial Company :
Cut + Run
Editor :
Sam Ostrove
Post Producer :
Evyn Bruce
Assistant Editor :
Beau Dickson
Colorist :
Tom Poole (Co3)
Sound Design :
Q Department
Mix :
Keith Reynaud at Heard City
Music Supervisor :
Jessica Dierauer
Music :
Into Composition by Finger Music
Licensed Track :
Breakout by Arnie Love

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