Whisky ads rarely break out of the Bonnie Prince Charlie straightjacket, but this spot for Johnnie Walker gives it a go.
Robert Carlyle, who doesn't usually get out of bed for commercials, does a straight five minute piece to camera as he walks through a cleverly constructed landscape of visual cues to deliver the brand's history.
It did hold my attention, although I think it could be better; the cheesy piper at the beginning is on too long, Carlyle looks as though he's reading an autocue just out of shot, and worst of all, his dialogue has been subtitled.
It may be that in Japan and China where Johnnie Walker's real market is these days, nobody will understand his accent, but come on BBH, he's hardly Rab C Nesbitt.
And it's interesting that this far from cheap piece of work comes out just as Diageo closes down its whisky packaging plant in guess where? Kilmarnock - the home of Johnnie Walker.
So yes, it looks good, but ultimately, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth that a dram won't take away.
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