It’s Fourth of July weekend, one of the “booziest days” of the year, according to the BACTrack annual consumption report.
And nobody is better at boozing, in style, than agency people. So we asked top agency execs what their go-to summer drink is — and what it says about them.
Jaime Robinson, co-founder and chief creative, Joan
Robinson’s go-to is the “Weekender,” found at Ike’s Restaurant in the Minneapolis airport. As creative and enterprising as her own firm, the drink is a Bloody Mary with a garnish of pepperoncini, black olives, green olives, a cocktail onion, a jalapeno, smoky beefstick, chilled shrimp, and a chunk of cheddar cheese. “When you’re a startup, you sometimes have to choose between spending money eating or spending money boozing,” said Robinson. But not with this drink.
Matt Manning, svp international, MKTG:
Not one to go for the obvious gin-and-tonic, Manning prefers a Z&T: a Zacapa rum and tonic with lime. Always a company man, Manning said he was introduced to it at the height of a hot summer when he was with his client Diageo, which makes the rum.
Doug Ray, CEO, Carat USA
Ray’s favorite drink is a Don Julio margarita, spicy and smokey. “I love to share it with friends. Mix up a batch,” he said. “Nothing better on a summer afternoon.”
Geoff Cubitt, co-CEO, Isobar
Cubitt goes for a Pain Killer: Rum, cream of coconut, orange juice and pineapple juice, with nutmeg sprinkled on top.
Omid Farhang, chief creative officer, Momentum
Farhang’s a creative guy. His drink: Take an Arnold Palmer and add bourbon, and you’ve got yourself a John Daly. “Perfect for sipping while watching your mullet grow,” he said.
John Osborn, CEO, BBDO New York
Agency people know to be loyal. BBDO works with Grey Goose, so Osborn’s favorite drink is the vodka company’s “summer drink.” Le Grand Fizz features Grey Goose, St. Germain, lime and soda.
Adam Tucker, president, Ogilvy & Mather New York
Tucker favors an Aperol Spritzer — Aperol, Prosecco, club soda and an orange. Where did it come from? Aperol brand marketing, which happened to be on site in Antibes at the time of the Cannes Lions and was promoting their drink to people who’d clearly had enough rosé.
Andreas Dahlqvist, chief creative officer, Grey New York
Short and to the point: Dahlqvist favors a rye Manhattan on the rocks, regardless of what time of year it is.
More in Marketing
In Graphic Detail: Why YouTube is a genuine threat to Netflix
Digiday has charted exactly how YouTube is a real threat to Netflix, due to its dominance of watch time, user base and its ability to totally reshape viewing behaviors.
At Ebiquity, a new role signals marketing’s shift from metrics to meaning
Marketing has no shortage of data. Ebiquity is betting on judgement.
Lowe’s wants to do more with AI shopping in 2026
Mylow, a shopping assistant powered by ChatGPT that launched in March, is already driving double the conversion rate for online shoppers.