Johnnie Walker goes to Beirut
Martin S. (from my alma mater Johns Hopkins) asked if I had seen this ad, which is apparently draped on a building along the road to Beirut.
I'm not sure how I feel about this...
Is it meant to be an uplifting homage to the strength of the people of Beirut; or a crass commercial attempt to fit an ad campaign into an unfortunate situation.
Were I in charge of advertising for JW in the Middle East, I think I would have tried a different tactic.
What do YOU think?
Perhaps this has been photoshopped? I doubt JW would be so tasteless.
Posted by: Jenkins | August 31, 2006 at 12:36 AM
Perhaps this ad should be verified before jumping to conclusions. But, if it is for real, I think it is terribly crass. I believe JW will have burnt more bridges than one with this ad.
Wendy Harker
Posted by: Wendy Harker | August 31, 2006 at 09:35 AM
I totally agree with the other posts...if this is legit, it is in very poor taste.
Posted by: Joshua London | August 31, 2006 at 09:59 AM
This surely must be fake and it cannot do Johnnie Walker or the whisky industry any good being posted here
Posted by: William | August 31, 2006 at 11:38 AM
Ah William, How wrong you are.
It is indeed real (per my update).
More so It is not my job to protect the Scotch Whisky Industry, but to show what's going on out there in the wide world.
Posted by: Kevin Erskine | August 31, 2006 at 11:44 AM
i am lebanese and from my point of view this ad was very attractive, coz during the israeli attacks over lebanon almost all the bridges in the country were bombed and destroyed which created a sort of panic among the citizens not to cross any bridge for fear of getting bombed or because it is already bombed.
so, for a lebanese, crossing a bridge is really a hard work and means a lot.
Posted by: katy | August 31, 2006 at 12:10 PM
I think this is awesome and shows that JW actually knows people in the countries they're advertising in.
People looking for reasons to get offended is starting to get really old. Love the ad.
Posted by: Rick Dobbs | August 31, 2006 at 12:28 PM
I Love the Ad, and think that JW knows what he is doing when it comes to a Marketing Strategy point of view. I just hope this Ad is still Standing from what has happened in the past couple of months.
Love The Ad.
Posted by: Johnny Farah | October 02, 2006 at 11:58 PM
After All whats happened, this Ad may really show the Lebanese to KEEP WALKING. After all Its great whisky
Posted by: Johnny Farah | October 03, 2006 at 12:01 AM
this ad rocks.
Posted by: richard halabi | May 05, 2007 at 12:20 PM
How could anyone possible be offended? Their supporting the Lebanese struggle yet not stating an opinion.
Love the ad! Well done Jonnie.
Posted by: Carl Martin Vigerland | December 04, 2007 at 03:16 PM