NEW YORK, June 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In recent
years, Father's Day has become a
holiday dedicated as much to cliches as to dads. Items
emblazoned with "World's Greatest Dad" and "#1 Dad" flood the
shelves of retailers and eventually the desks and closets of
fathers across the country. Ties, cologne, golf balls,
shaving kits – the list goes on and on of traditional gifts that
are selected for mere convenience versus thought for the
recipient. Chances are high that if you can't remember
what you got your dad last Father's
Day, neither can he. Was it the button down shirt or
the neck massager?
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/NY22696-a
)
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120612/NY22696-b
)
Johnnie Walker Blue Label offers a way out of the empty rhetoric
and irresponsible gifting of Father's
Day past. Gifting a bottle of this rare blended Scotch
whisky speaks volumes of your opinion of him, and engraving a
personalized message on a bottle makes it truly memorable. But
finding the right words to be immortalized on an extraordinary
bottle of Scotch whisky can be difficult.
This year, the makers of Johnnie Walker Blue Label asked a
professional, a celebrated speechwriter, to help you create a gift
for dad that he'll never forget. Dan
Gerstein, the founder of New
York's only world-class, full-service writing firm Gotham
Ghostwriters, was tasked to come up with some tips on how to honor
dads with a personalized message on a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue
Label.
Here's what Gerstein has to say about celebrating dad. While his
advice was specifically developed to help craft the perfect message
in 45 characters or less on a bottle of the rare blended Scotch
whisky, his tips are as applicable to a toast, tribute or any fete
aimed at celebrating dad. Whether you want to recognize an
endearing trait or an inspirational accomplishment, or simply
trying to say how much you care, put down the tie and pick up these
pointers: commemorate
1) KEEP IT TIGHT: Remember, you only have 45
characters to say something memorable. So think of your words as
being precious as the gift you are giving -- to be poured with
care. Don't worry about signing your name -- write the right
thing, and he'll know who the gift is from. Focus on maximizing
your message.
2) MAKE IT PERSONAL: A special gift like Johnnie Walker
Blue Label deserves a special inscription. So leave the generic
father's day wishes to the greeting
card people and show your dad you are thinking of him. It
doesn't matter whether you are serious, goofy, cryptic, or simple –
just try to be original. Share some inside insight, like
referencing his favorite team or the golf trip you took to
Scotland together. The surest way
to connect with him is to connect the message to you.
3) KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE: Most dads love Blue Label. But
their other tastes can vary widely, particularly when it comes to
matters of the heart. What sounds like corn pone to one man can
sing like a tone poem to another. So don't feel the need to
meet somebody else's expectations. If your dad appreciates
wordplay, have some pun. If he's more sentimental, play those
heartstrings. Either way, just speak his language.
4) SHOW YOURSELF: Since you are striving to send a
special message, it's great to aim high. Should you be inspired to
say something profound or witty, go for it. But it's more important
for your engraving to ring true as you. So as you are speaking
dad's language, make sure it's with your accent. Use words and
phrasing that come naturally and sound familiar. There's a straight
line from authentic to "awwwww. . . ."
5) STAY CLASSY: Your inscription should be special to you
and your dad. But bear in mind that he may want to share his Blue
Label – along with your message – and put it on display in the den
or at the office for all comers to see. It's fine to have
some fun. Just be sure, as you have done your whole life, to make
him proud.
If you really want to make it memorable, Gerstein will be
hosting office hours at the Johnnie Walker Blue Label engraving
kiosk in New York's Grand Central
Terminal from 11am ET to 7pm ET on
Thursday, June 14th. Walk-in consultations are
available and appointments to speak with Gerstein on the phone may
be booked ahead of time by emailing fathersday@hunterpr.com.
Engraved bottles are available for purchase online at
http://johnnie-walker-blue.1-877-spirits.com. Messages of up to 45
characters are available in multiple languages including specific
phrases in Chinese, Korean and Hindi. Additionally, a
temporary engraving kiosk will be set up in New York's Grand Central Terminal from
Monday, June 4 through Sunday, June 17th in the Graybar Passage at 43rd
Street and Lexington Avenue. Consumers must be of legal drinking
age to participate. The product is not for sale at the
studio, but may be purchased at fine retailers around the city.
And remember, the best gift you can give your father is knowing
that you are safe. Johnnie
Walker reminds you to please drink responsibly.
ABOUT Johnnie Walker®:
Johnnie Walker® is the world's leading Scotch whisky brand. Its
portfolio features five award-winning whiskies—Red Label®, Black
Label®, Green Label®, Gold Label®, and Blue Label® —imported and
distributed in the United States
by Diageo North America. At the 2007 San Francisco World Spirits
Competition, The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Anniversary Pack,
created to honor the 200th birthday of founder and original blender
John Walker, was named "Best Blended
Scotch," and Green Label was named "Best Blended Malt Scotch."
More than 4 bottles of Johnnie
Walker are consumed every second, and more than 120 million
bottles are sold every year in more than 200 countries. The
product line covers a broad range of occasions for the whisky
drinker from every day to special moments. The five premium brands
represent a range of prices and tastes that share a remarkable
180-year history and a commitment to quality. Additional
information about Johnnie Walker may
be found at http://www.johnniewalker.com.
About Diageo:
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an
outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits,
beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie
Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Windsor, Buchanan's and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff,
Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Jose Cuervo, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than
180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the
New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE).
For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and
performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that
promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice
tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
SOURCE Johnnie Walker