Thursday, September 23, 2021

Richard Taylor: A Dram of Drambuie

In 1949, an advertisement that appeared in The New Yorker, and no doubt elsewhere, suggested that readers try a digestif imported from Scotland: "After dinner a dram of Drambuie." A dram is conveniently defined in the ad as "a small drink," which is correct, informally. Technically, it's an eighth of a fluid ounce. Either way, the slogan is a catchy one and it makes the name of the product more memorable.



Later, the ad campaign was expanded to include any number of exotic locales: "No matter where you are—after dinner there's nothing like a dram of Drambuie." So ran the updated copy for Drambuie's print campaign, circa 1952-1956. New Yorker cartoonist Richard Taylor illustrated the ads, taking his readers on an armchair world tour. He created at least eight drawings, each featuring an older and a younger man wearing dinner jackets and being served "the only cordial with a Scotch whisky base" in some of the more far-flung areas of the globe. Here they are—cheers!











These ads appeared in The New Yorker multiple times, and that is where I found them. I have not attempted to find the first appearance of each individual ad; don't be fooled by the apparent chronology of the issues. I have merely copied each major variant once, at random.

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1949-11-19/flipbook/108/

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1953-03-21/flipbook/108/

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1953-09-19/flipbook/072/

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1953-10-31/flipbook/072/


https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1953-11-14/flipbook/116/



Spot drawing of a commuter by Roger Duvoisin
https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1955-02-05/flipbook/090/

https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1954-10-02/flipbook/076/


https://archives.newyorker.com/newyorker/1955-10-22/flipbook/092/


Note:  Could I have missed a Drambuie ad by Richard Taylor? Anything's possible. Please let me know if you find another.




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