We’ve tapped into the creative minds of marketing directors and content leaders to bring you eight memorable beverage marketing campaigns that have left a lasting impression.
From Liquid Death’s Viral Taste Test to the Pepsi Challenge’s ground game impact, discover why these beverage marketing campaigns stand out in the crowded world of advertising.
- Liquid Death’s Viral Taste Test
- Greene King’s In-Camera Beer Story
- Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola Creative Ads
- Red Bull’s Imaginative Winged Campaign
- Starbucks’ Global Customer Connections
- Coca-Cola’s Personalized “Share a Coke”
- Budweiser’s Iconic “Wazzup” Humor
- Pepsi Challenge’s Ground Game Impact
In addition to these iconic campaigns, we also offer an insightful exploration of the diverse range of products in the non-alcoholic beer subscription. Additionally, our article on nootropics in the beverage industry offers a fascinating look at how these cognitive-enhancing drinks are making a mark in the world of functional beverages.
Liquid Death’s Viral Taste Test
Liquid Death is a brand that continues to be memorable with its marketing campaign. Their unique ability to stand out and increase virality from their marketing is some of the best we’ve ever seen.
Their “better than back sweat” campaign, where they had a blind taste test between Liquid Death and real back sweat, was completely unexpected and hilariously received by people in and out of their target audience. They are a great case study in how to stand out in a commodity category.
Jason Vaught, Director of Content, SmashBrand
Greene King’s In-Camera Beer Story
“Brand New Beers, Centuries in the Making” is a campaign from Greene King that absolutely blew my mind on first viewing, and every time I have watched it since.
This is a hugely creative approach to telling the story of a beer that, even to a filmmaker such as myself, seems to defy possibility. The film is entirely shot in-camera—there is no animation or VFX post-production, and the technical requirements behind the film are impressive and demonstrate a serious creative process. While the visuals themselves are impressive, it’s the connection between the visual content and the historical theme of the campaign that marries together seamlessly.
Ryan Stone, Founder and Creative Director, Lambda Films & Animation
Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola Creative Ads
I really appreciate creative marketing. It’s not often that you see brands venture into new, unexplored areas, but that’s exactly what has happened—and continues to happen—in the ongoing battle of comparative advertising between the two most famous soft-drink brands: Pepsi and Coca-Cola.
This kind of advertising battle has led to some really impressive creative work that I find myself enjoying year after year. Coca-Cola is all about happiness, while Pepsi positions itself as the choice of the new generation (a tagline from BBDO agency). My personal favorite in this battle of ads is Pepsi’s “Vending Machine” commercial. In it, a young boy initially purchases a Coca-Cola from the vending machine, only to use it as a stepping stone to reach the Pepsi button, which is what he actually wants.
This campaign is particularly memorable because it showcases the enduring relationship between Coke and Pepsi, a relationship that predates the 20th century. These two brands have played a crucial role in shaping the landscape of modern advertising and have helped define what it means to be a brand.
Patrick Beltran, Marketing Director, Ardoz Digital
Red Bull’s Imaginative Winged Campaign
Red Bull’s campaign about how Red Bull gives you wings is a memorable one for me because it was always an example during college classes. People would think that Red Bull actually gives you wings, which was kind of ridiculous to me because why would an energy drink give you actual wings?
Madison T, Ecommerce Manager, My Supplement Store
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Starbucks’ Global Customer Connections
I still remember organic customer stories from the “Meet Me at Starbucks” campaign that ran across several countries and years. The initial campaign video worked very well because it positioned the brand on a truly global scale and worked wonders for the new markets it had just entered.
I think the campaign masterfully captured the experiences and connections of customers who visited Starbucks and managed to get people to share their stories very organically, which is a big win.
Sam Roberts, Digital Marketing Manager, Connect Vending
Coca-Cola’s Personalized “Share a Coke”
A campaign that really left a mark on me was Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” campaign. It was such a simple yet brilliant idea. Instead of the usual brand name, they replaced it with popular names, allowing people to find a Coke bottle with their own name or the name of a friend. It created a personal connection and turned a routine purchase into a meaningful, shareable experience.
I remember feeling this warm, fuzzy sensation when I found a bottle with my name on it. It transformed the way we look at a regular soda into a personal and memorable moment. As a real estate professional, it made me think about how creating a personal connection with clients could make a lasting impact in our industry as well.
Samantha Odo, Real Estate Sales Representative and Montreal Division Manager, Precondo
Budweiser’s Iconic “Wazzup” Humor
The Budweiser “Wazzup” campaign stands out to me because it was so different. The company ran so many of those ads that it was hard to miss the catchy lines and the off-the-wall comedy.
Robert Brill, CEO, Brill Media
Pepsi Challenge’s Ground Game Impact
This one goes way back and shows my age, but I have to mention it because I work in advertising, and it was one of the first marketing campaigns I ever really saw (though, at the time, I in no way knew it was marketing): Back in the ’80s, Pepsi did what they called the “Pepsi Challenge,” which was a blind taste test between Pepsi and Coke. I remember it clearly because I took the Pepsi Challenge myself at summer camp—meaning they had a great ground game.
Sadly, I don’t remember which I preferred, though in doing some research, I’ve since found that people preferred Pepsi because it tastes sweeter. Nevertheless, Coke is still the winner in the “cola wars”—so I don’t know if it was actually successful in convincing people they liked Pepsi more than Coke.
To be honest, I only drink Diet Coke, and I don’t actually like Pepsi, even though I know, with marketing experience, that it’s just very powerful branding at work.
Phillip Mandel, Owner, Mandel Marketing