It's not quite Marguerita Time as Status Quo's Francis Rossi joins whisky firm
In a surprise move, 200-year old whisky brand Glen Rossie has appointed the Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi and adopted a new Quo-inspired look.
What began as a tipple on a tour bus ten years ago has now matured into a Chairmanship for Status Quo frontman Franci Rossi, who has taken a significant minority stake in the 196-year-old brand with The Brand Cellar, which acquired Glen Rossie from First Quench earlier this year.
The whisky has now been re-branded with a Status Quo inspired plectrum inspired bottle label design created by packaging agency Pocket Rocket, while Redroute has built a new website for the brand and will now work on an advertising campaign. Publicity for Francis Rossi is being handled by Duroc Media and PR for Glen Rossie by Umpf in Leeds.
Speaking of his plans for the brand, chief executive officer of The Brand Cellar, said: “Glen Rossie has a tremendous whisky heritage and as we approach its 200th anniversary in 2014 we want to turn it into a global brand.
“We signed a deal with Francis this year in Melbourne when he was touring Australia and as Chairman – and as ‘front man’ for the Glen Rossie brand – we believe he can help us reinvigorate sales not just in the UK but, as someone who has sold 118m records worldwide, overseas too.
“We have some exciting and innovative plans for the brand from a marketing perspective which we’re currently planning. However, to mark the unveiling of the new bottle and identity we’re running an online competition to win one of 30 first-run, limited edition, signed bottles on our site www.glenrossiewhisky.com.”
Although not yet confirmed, The Brand Cellar is in talks with a number of interested parties regarding sales and distribution channels.