Update 2 4/14/08

The top U.S. brand of Vodka Skyy (I've never heard of it) decided to fan the flames with a press release of its own chiding Absolut.

Today, SKYY® Vodka, the number-one vodka produced in the United States, spoke out against suggestions by Absolut® Vodka to disregard that treaty, as well as the joining of Texas to the Union in 1845, as depicted in Absolut’s recent advertising.

“Like SKYY Vodka, the residents of states like California, Texas and Arizona are exceptionally proud of the fact that they are from the United States of America,” said Dave Karraker, SKYY Vodka. “To imply that they might be interested in changing their mailing addresses, as our competitor seems to be suggesting in their advertising, is a bit presumptuous.”

It's an interesting PR move. One thing I learned about PR is sometimes when your competitors are going down the best thing to do is keep quiet. I can't imagine this will bring Skyy and new customers.

via Consumerist


--- update 1 4/9/08 ----------

Update 4/8/08: The AP reports that Absolut decided to apologize. The text, offered on its consumer line:

"In no way was it meant to offend or disparage, nor does it advocate an altering of borders, nor does it lend support to any anti-American sentiment, nor does it reflect immigration issues...As a global company, we recognize that people in different parts of the world may lend different perspectives or interpret our ads in a different way than was intended in that market, and for that we apologize."

The ads have ended their run in Mexico.

--- original post 4/7/08 -------------


A new Absolut Vodka ad running in Mexico shows a map of the U.S./Mexico border before the Mexican American War (1848). Back then California and several southwestern states were part of Mexico. The ad copy? "In an Absolut world." Reactions in the U.S. posted on blogs are fiercely against.

- Monsters and Critics