Cannes Lions

Made for more

WIEDEN+KENNEDY, Amsterdam / HENNESSY / 2024

Film
Film
Film

Overview

Entries

Credits

Overview

Background

Hennessy is an iconic brand, with deep roots in the Black community in the US. But in 2022, we were losing ground. Culturally, with rap song mentions of Hennessy dropping in favour of rival tequila brand Casamigos. And business-wise, with sales slipping in the US.

Research revealed that Hennessy was confined to night-time, heavy partying or overly sophisticated occasions, and that people struggled to imagine other ways of drinking it beyond neat or very simple mixes.

We had to get a new generation of drinkers who had a limited perception of where, when and how to drink Hennessy to see it as a versatile and vibrant spirit.

We needed them to think: “There’s so much more to Hennessy than I thought”. Not only to reestablish our business leadership, but also to reconnect with a new generation and take back cultural leadership as a 250 year old icon.

Execution

While enjoying a game of croquet with friends, Teyana Taylor shows us just how easy it is to make a Hennessy Margarita. Set to the track Tchiki Tchiki by French band Make the Girl Dance, we watch as Teyana effortlessly and stylishly adds ingredients to a glass before using a ride-on lawnmower to mix the drink and apply the final touches.

Outcome

This film introduces Hennessy in a new yet ownable way that makes the brand feel fresh and relevant in today’s world, while keeping the attitude and boldness Hennessy has built up over the years. It reaches a younger audience (21 to 30, skew more female) without alienating the current Hennessy drinkers (35 to 45, skew more male). With this film we’re shining a new light on how and where Hennessy can be consumed, freeing it up from the box it’s been confined to for so long, opening it up to daytime occasions and lighter yet easy to make cocktails. It creates a unique & ownable world for Hennessy that shows how any drink or occasion can easily be made ‘more’ when you add Hennessy, bringing back Hennessy at the forefront of culture. Ultimately, recruiting the next generation of consumers, future-proofing the brand and impacting sales.

Similar Campaigns

12 items

Shortlisted Cannes Lions
Life is the Greatest Odyssey

DDB PARIS

Life is the Greatest Odyssey

2024, HENNESSY

(opens in a new tab)