Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey
1967 Jim Beam Bourbon Whiskey original vintage advertisement stated: The taste is distinctive. The man is Sean Connery. The Bourbon is Jim Beam. See Sean Connery in “You Only Live Twice”. Jim Beam has been one of the most popular bourbons of all time and has had its ups and downs with the right advertising and getting the public familiar with its product. Jim Beam put out the ad below featuring Sean Connery as James Bond and using the James Bond movie to get their product recognized and sales up. Through all the laws banning alcohol, the wars, and issues with alcohol, Jim Beam put their head down and continued to march forward. They changed their advertising accordingly over the years to capture the peoples attention and keep their product popular and well known. The advertisement shown below decided to use a well sophisticated dressed successful man to market the product. Jim Beam felt they could capture the market of the wealthier by making the drink appear more sophisticated and a bourbon for the wealthy. So in this time and era Jim Beam decided to go after one of the most popular movie stars that was the lead actor in one of the most popular movies and by doing this they captured the market. After the crest of Bond Fever had enveloped popular culture the world over with the release of “Thunderball”, savvy advertisers were quick to jump on the merchandising gravy train. Kentucky bourbon Jim Beam signed up the man himself, Sean Connery, to appear in advertisements as himself from 1966 until 1974. Despite not being in character, Jim Beam used his associate as “the original James Bond” in their copy, even after Roger Moore had made his debut in “Live And Let Die.” Sean Connerys first print ad for Jim Beam, which appeared in the September 16th, 1966, edition of LIFE Magazine. A month later, the publication would feature a cover story on 007 . The first 1967 follow-up advertisement with Connery in a similar jacket, but this time the copy promotes the new Bond film “You Only Live Twice.”
Beer, cigarettes, perfume, hair products and cars are just a few of the many items advertised in magazines across the globe. Some are sold by tempting the reader, with scantily clad men and women posing in exotic locations looking deep into your eyes and begging you to buy their product. Others are sold by cute animals that appear so nice and friendly that you just have to buy the products. These “tricks of the trade”