Top Whisky Advertising Ideas to Inspire Your Next Campaign

Whisky Advertising Ideas from Leading Global Brands

Across travel retail and premium liquor stores, whisky brands are getting more creative with their advertising. From elaborate displays to interactive gift sets, each brand uses a unique approach to capture attention. Here’s a closer look at some of the strongest examples we’ve seen.

1. The Macallan

The Macallan continues to redefine what whisky advertising looks like in high-traffic retail environments. Their displays don’t just showcase products; they create a full, immersive experience.

The Macallan x Cirque du Soleil collaboration is a standout example of experiential branding.

Soft purple lighting, wooden furniture, tasting glasses, and digital screens create a theatrical, artistic environment that reflects both brands’ attention to detail.

Its M Collection on glass shelves with geometric faceted backdrops makes each bottle feel like a museum piece.

Moreover, the “Tailor Your Gift” station adds an interactive element that encourages engagement, a smart move for travel retail shoppers looking for premium gifts.

Illustrated packaging, wooden bases, and matching informational cards come together to tell a cohesive story.

Every design detail feels intentional and elevated.

Indeed, The Macallan demonstrates how whisky displays can move beyond simple merchandising into a full brand experience.

2. Chivas

Chivas whiskey advertising ideas are indeed oozing with creativity. Its floor advertising sticker perfectly matches the overall look of the retail display.

As it’s the only one that utilised colourful floor stickers, it makes this whiskey advertising more remarkable in-store. But this promotion wouldn’t be complete without Chivas’ festive and exceptional product packaging.

Each whisky packaging design reflects the richness of the products while showcasing the brand’s creativity.

3. Jameson

Jameson’s setup uses a real wooden barrel as the centrepiece. Instead of elaborate lighting, the brand leans into natural textures and craft cues, carved typography, wooden tasting cards, and earthy tones.

Each tasting card in front of the bottles lists flavor notes (“Hops Citrus Floral,” “Smooth Toasty Nuts,” “Wood Spice Toffee”).

It helps shoppers choose based on preference rather than price alone. It’s educational, grounding, and true to Jameson’s identity.

4. Jack Daniel’s

The Jack Daniel’s display relies on strong black-and-white branding.

The hangtag promoting a “Win a Bespoke Home Bar with Jack” giveaway adds energy and urgency to a classic SKU.

The prize mechanic is bold and simple,  exactly what works best in supermarkets and mid-tier retail.

In addition, the security cap and metal wire are visible, but the branding still dominates thanks to the dark, rustic wood-panel background printed on the hangtag.

5. Glenfiddich

Glenfiddich is one of the few whisky brands that truly understands how to command silence in a noisy retail space. Their displays don’t fight for attention; they earn it.

• Glenfiddich 50-Year 

  The 50-Year is showcased inside a tall acrylic cylinder set on a copper-toned pedestal. There is no clutter, no loud marketing message, no unnecessary ornamentation, and that’s exactly why it works.

It looks like something that should be behind glass.

The design does two things brilliantly:

• Signals rarity — the kind of item you approach slowly

• Creates distance — not physical distance, but emotional prestige

The display communicates, “This is not just whisky; this is a legacy in a bottle.”

• Glenfiddich 21-Year 

Compared to the quiet elegance of the 50YO, the 21YO artist edition is vibrant and expressive. The vivid reds and golds aren’t just decoration. They’re storytelling tools that bring the notes of rum cask finishing, cultural motifs, and craftsmanship to life.

The box is rich enough to be displayed face-forward, which means:

• The packaging is the advertisement

• The bottle becomes part of a larger artistic moment

• Shoppers instantly understand this is a “special” release

Glenfiddich proves that premium advertising isn’t only about luxury materials. It’s about creating a mood.

6. Jim Beam 

Jim Beam doesn’t compete on ornate displays or elaborate LED installations. Instead, they focus on what bourbon does best, bringing people together.

The gift pack featuring two crystal-cut glasses is a perfect example of emotional advertising through packaging. The embossed message, “Because bourbon is best shared,” frames the entire purchase as an invitation to connect.

This strategy resonates strongly because:

• It sells an experience, not a SKU

• It taps into gifting, celebration, and social rituals

• It positions Jim Beam as warm, approachable, and thoughtful

The die-cut window adds transparency and trust, a subtle but effective cue for value-seeking buyers.

7. Grant’s 

Grant’s isn’t trying to be the most premium whisky on the shelf, but it is one of the most confident. Their bright red shelf hanger instantly stands out in an aisle dominated by blacks, golds, and deep browns.

And that’s exactly the point.

The triple-prize mechanic (“Win home cinema package, home kits, whisky glasses”) gives the shopper three chances to justify the purchase. It converts curiosity into action, even when the shopper is browsing casually.

Why this works:

• The bold red colour disrupts shelf monotony

• The hanger bends forward, pushing into shoppers’ eyelines

• The giveaway adds excitement to a mid-range product category

For brands with modest POS budgets, this is a textbook example of doing more with less.

8. Johnnie Walker 

Johnnie Walker understands something many brands overlook: gift-with-purchase is one of the most powerful tools in whisky marketing.

The promotion you shared uses three tiers of rewards:

• Premium nosing glass set for XR21

• Brushed-steel whisky flask

• Highball + mini bottle pairing

This tiering is deliberate. It ensures:

• High-value shoppers feel rewarded for trading up

• Mid-tier buyers get something useful and branded

• Entry-level shoppers still receive a meaningful bonus

The visuals — gold gradients, clean layouts, and premium photography. For corporate buyers, holiday travellers, or gifting customers, this kind of offer is irresistible.

Read more: Get inspired by these whisky promotion ideas from different brands. 

How to Plan a Successful Whisky Advertising Campaign

A strong whisky campaign isn’t just about good visuals. It’s about aligning your brand story with shopper behaviour and the environment where the product will be discovered. Here’s a refined 5-step framework that helps brand owners plan campaigns with intention and impact:

1. Define the core message you want shoppers to remember.

Every whisky has a story, but only one message can be the hero.
Decide what you want the campaign to highlight:

• Exceptional cask quality

• A rare or limited-edition release

• Heritage and tradition

• Innovation or modern craftsmanship

• Gifting appeal

When the message is clear, the rest of the campaign becomes easier to build and far more consistent across touchpoints.

2. Choose retail environments that match your audience.

Different locations attract different types of shoppers. Select channels that align with your goal:

• Airports / Duty-Free: High spenders, gift buyers, travellers seeking exclusives

• Premium Department Stores: Consumers looking for luxury and expert recommendations

• Supermarkets & Hypermarkets: Everyday drinkers and seasonal shoppers

• Specialty Whisky Shops: Enthusiasts and collectors

Where you advertise affects how you advertise. Tailor materials, messaging, and packaging to match the environment.

3. Create a clear hero moment that draws people in.

A successful campaign has one unmistakable focal point: a bottle, edition, or story that acts as the magnet.
Consider:

• A spotlighted hero SKU

• Elevated display plinth or podium

• Strong lighting

• Clean visual hierarchy

This “hero moment” should stop shoppers mid-walk and make them want to learn more.

4. Add value through packaging, exclusives, or bundles.

Whisky shoppers are drawn to products that feel special. Enhancements help justify price and push impulse purchases:

• Gifting boxes

• Limited-edition packaging

• Branded glassware

• Cocktail tools

• Travel-retail exclusives

• Holiday bundles

These additions not only increase average order value but also create strong differentiation on crowded shelves.

5. Elevate the display with premium materials and finishing.

The physical structure of your POSM influences how shoppers perceive your brand, often before they even look at the bottle.
Premium cues include:

• Warm LEDs that highlight the liquid colour

• Wood, leather, or brushed metal accents

• Clean acrylic and glass elements

• Minimalistic layouts with intentional spacing

The right materials instantly communicate quality, craftsmanship, and prestige, exactly what whisky buyers expect.

Whisky Product Ideas to Add to Your Marketing

To support your next whisky advertising campaign, here are some product ideas you may offer to complement your product offering. You canuse thwm as GWP, giveaways, client gifts and many more.

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Tap the image below to get inspired by our recent projects with renowned Drinks Brands.

In Conclusion,

Even the most established whiskey brands have repeatedly found themselves needing to reestablish their place in the marketplace as younger competitors vie for a piece of the pie. And needless to say, Chivas Regal continues to leave its mark in the industry with its unique and extraordinary whiskey advertising ideas released in the market, and this recent one is no exception.

If you also want your business to thrive and excel in this saturated market, the ODM Group is here to make this possible. We at ODM have been in the marketing and sourcing industry since 2003. We saw how the market and competition evolved throughout the past two decades.

Witnessing all the innovations and changes, we can guarantee that we have equipped ourselves with the right knowledge and experience to help your business stand out in the competition. We produce various promotional product ideas, from drinks marketing ideas, sports promotional merchandise, branded corporate giveaways, seasonal promotional products, gift-with-purchase ideas and first-rate promotional displays; ODM will get you covered.

Furthermore, our team of experienced product designers are here to ensure that we meet and deliver any marketing needs that our clients need. Feel free to send us a message to learn more about our services and get your quote.

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