The Drink Cart: Red Solo Cups
Throw some dogs and burgers on the grill, grab the red solo cups and make a giant batched summer cocktail, it's July 4th, baby!
It’s July 4th. And let’s rip this bandaid off right quick. This newsletter almost didn’t happen this week and there’s no random hot takes but we’re starting with the Hulkster and you’re just going to have to deal with that.
Between extra meetings and a batched Hugo Spitz cocktails, it’s nearly post 6pm on the West Coast and I’m still working on it. So get ready for some ‘Merica content and all the things I’ve managed to spot this week.
Today’s “newsletter” is a miracle for actually getting done. But let’s dive into freedom anyway:
Eighties flashbacks of Spuds Mackenzie while getting shocked by magazine covers
Gas station rebrands, gambling watches and Olympic luxury
Get a bigger boat legos and toilet seat baseball
Plus a guest drink cart curator of epic summer proportions
1. Spuds MacKenzie declares let the party begin!
I’m shamelessly pandering to Americans on their Independence Day today. Do you remember Spuds MacKenzie? Here he is signing the Declaration of Independence.
Bud Light’s 1980’s campaign platform for the “Original Party Animal.” Making his first appearance in 1987 the dog was actually a female bull terrier named Honey Tree Evil Eye - no joke. The campaign would last 6 years with constant controversy for being too appealing to kids. A version of Spuds retuned a few years ago, but unless you were in the 80’s, you wouldn’t really get it.
2. Savage Magazine Covers
Haven’t seen mainstream magazines go so hard in a long wild. The latest Time and Economist covers are devastating. 10/10.
3. Are we rebranding to second-tier gas stations now?
Verizon did a rebrand recently. I think the funiest thing I saw in the aftermath was from designer Aaron Poe who asked, “And this Is it just me or does the @verizon rebrand look like a second-tier gas station in Spain?”
4. Randomly inserting Macho Man Vibes here
My business partner Graham is standing over my shoulder now. So rather than boring you with another advertising or cultural thing. I’m going to just share some vibes. And since this was in my feed earlier this week, I’m sharing this imagine of Randy Macho Man Savage just vibing. I’m not saying i’m phoning it in, I’m just giving you straight access into my feed this week.
5. Ridiculous Gambling Watch
I know some of the readers of this newsletter may or may not be involved in gambling. No judgement. But this Frank Miura King Macau Gamble Wrist Watch is absolutely insane. It’s not expensive, it’s just wild.
6. Luxury Medal Ceremonies
Oh damn. Of course the Summer Games medals in Paris are going to be handed out on a Louis Vuitton tray. It’s pretty smug.
7. A very special set of design skills
The LEGO brand just dropped the set of the summer. They’re dropping a $159.99 set on August 1st. I also love this timely Jaws t-shirt, “The mayor from Jaws is still the mayor in Jaws 2. It’ is so important to vote in your local elections.” True that.
8. When in doubt add a row of toilet seats
I love that the Lake County Captains have added a sponsored row of toilet seats to their ball park. Yep, that’s right, the Cleveland Guardians’ High A Affiliate now have an amazing toilet row. You can sit on a toilet seat, watch an entire baseball game and there is even reading materials. Maybe the Toronto Blue Jays should think about this.
9. Hat of the week: Hickory Crawdads Stars & Stripes
I was looking for the ideal July 4th hat. This Hickory Crawdad’s Stars and Stripes seems to fit the bill. Oh yeah, the South Atlantic High-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers is on point.
10. Last call: The Drink Cart Cannes Punch
It’s July 4th. We actually have a drink cart style drink in our Vancouver office today. I take zero credit for this. Thanks to Amira Ali in our office she created a batch of this Gin Hugo Spritz for us. And the real genius is she measured it all in red solo cups. That’s so cool.
Love that for us. I might have doubled that recipe - but you know how I roll. One of our amazing developers Cam said to me that my drinks are too strong today. That’s awkward - or a badge of honour - I’m not sure which. But well done to Amira for making the taste of the summer for a real Thursday drink cart at the agency. Recipe-ish below.
The Drink Cart: Batched Gin Hugo Spritz
1 red solo cup of gin
1 red solo cup of St. Germain Elderflower liquor
1 red solo cup of soda water
1 1/2 bottles of proseco
Mint and cucumber to taste and serve in red solo cups.
Stay safe out there friends:
Down the hatch! What did you think of this week’s newsletter? Drop me a comment or question below or tell me how your weekly drink turned out.
The Drink Cart is a weekly newsletter of advertising, pop culture, baseball and cocktails from Jackson Murphy.