Leap Year STOLE Our Saturday St. Patrick's Day, but Jameson® Irish Whiskey Has a Plan: Introducing St. Patrick's Eve on March 16, hosted by Comedians Colin Jost and Michael Che

Rhea-AI Summary

Jameson Irish Whiskey introduces a new holiday, St. Patrick's Eve, to celebrate the occasion a day early due to Leap Year. The brand launches limited-edition jackets, cocktails, and a live countdown event in Times Square. Comedians Colin Jost and Michael Che join the campaign, emphasizing the lighthearted spirit and community of Jameson. The celebration includes a rock drop in Times Square and various activities across the country, with proceeds from jacket sales benefiting the Restaurant Workers' Community Fund.

On the heels of Jameson Irish Whiskey's Must be a Jameson campaign, Jameson has created a new holiday, because a Jameson wouldn't let Leap Year get in the way of a good time.

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The world has patiently waited since 2018 for St. Patrick's Day to again fall on a Saturday, but Leap Year almost ruined everything. Who wants to wait until 2029 to celebrate properly on a Saturday? Jameson Irish Whiskey doesn't, that's for sure, which is why they've created a very made-up (but very official) new holiday: Jameson St. Patrick's Eve on Saturday, March 16. For the next month, Jameson is helping revelers prepare for the occasion, from limited-edition St. Patrick's Eve jackets to smooth cocktails to a chance to join a Jameson-ified St. Patrick's Eve countdown live in Times Square.

St. Patrick's Eve brings the brand's Must be a Jameson campaign to life by creating a world that connects likeminded people who choose to see the green side of things. Nothing brings people together more than a good holiday and because every Eve celebration has top-notch hosts, Jameson has tapped comedians Colin Jost and Michael Che to help everyone ring in St. Patrick's Eve.

"Our Must be a Jameson campaign honors a community anchored by their shared lighthearted spirit, so when Leap Year skipped over a Saturday St. Patrick's Day, we did exactly what a Jameson would do: we created a completely new holiday so people can start celebrating St. Patrick's Day a little early," says Johan Radojewski, Vice President of Marketing, Jameson Irish Whiskey. "We teamed up with Colin Jost and Michael Che to help us seize this moment and encourage everyone to embrace St. Patrick's Eve, because they're a duo who appreciates a smooth Irish Whiskey, good company and a brand-new holiday – just like any Jameson would."

Jost and Che star in a series of hilarious content depicting just how frustrating it is to have Leap Year steal a Saturday St. Patrick's Day and ultimately agreeing that Jameson St. Patrick's Eve is the perfect (only?) solution.

"I don't believe in leap years," said Jost. "Which is why I'm several days late for every appointment. But for all you sheep who trust Big Calendar and think February 'sometimes' has an extra day, we've gotten you off the hook by inventing a new holiday, St. Patrick's Eve. And like I keep yelling at my family and therapist, 'This isn't just an excuse to party on Saturday as well as Sunday. It's a real holiday.'"

Michael Che is also on board, making this Jameson partnership the first joint brand deal for the close pair. "Colin is also probably a little relieved we're going to spend a Saturday night ringing in St. Patrick's Eve with Jameson, instead of reading the jokes I write for him."

To make St. Patrick's Eve as epic as possible, Jameson is taking over Times Square on Saturday, March 16. Starting today, fans can visit JamesonSPE.com to enter for a chance to score a spot on the guest list for Jameson St. Patrick's Eve celebration in New York City, co-hosted by Jost and Che, featuring a surprise DJ performance and a can't-miss, first-of-its-kind 'rock drop' – a Jameson version of the famous Times Square ball drop – at 8 p.m. ET (aka midnight in Ireland) to mark the occasion.

Jameson Irish Whiskey is one of the first brands to ever drop the Times Square Ball to celebrate a new holiday. To further spread the St. Patrick's Eve spirit from coast-to-coast, Jameson will also light up the exterior of Sphere in Las Vegas, known as the Exosphere in Jameson green; wrap the ferries and water taxis in the dyed-green Chicago River and have a complete digital takeover at L.A. Live - all marking the new holiday.

Anyone 21+ can tune into the rock drop live streamed on JamesonSPE.com and for those in NYC, Jameson will have a kick-off to St. Patrick's Eve in Times Square Plaza between 43^rd and 44^th Streets with a live DJ, giveaways and more from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET.

Because a special holiday deserves an equally stylish look, Jameson is releasing limited-edition, vintage-inspired jackets at JamesonSPE.com. The design includes a hidden pocket inside the jacket to perfectly hold a Jameson hip flask that comes with the order, as well as luxe patches signature to the iconic Irish Whiskey brand. The Jameson St. Patrick's Eve jacket will retail for $150 plus tax with free shipping in the continental U.S., and 50-jacket drops will take place weekly starting on February 20 through March 12. All proceeds will benefit the Restaurant Workers' Community Fund (RWCF), a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for food and beverage service industry workers, continuing the brand's long-standing partnership with the organization to support its bartending community.

Once plans are made and outfits are set, fans can also try the new Jameson Orange Spritz ready-to-drink cocktail to raise a toast on St. Patrick's Eve, wherever they may be. Tapping into the insight that Orange is the top-preferred flavor for whiskey drinkers, the newest flavor in the Jameson ready-to-drink cocktail lineup is the first of the reformulation, featuring a higher ABV, now at 7%.

For more details about Jameson St. Patrick's Eve festivities or for St. Patrick's Eve cocktail ideas, visit JamesonSPE.com and follow @Jameson_US.

TASTE RESPONSIBLY. JAMESON ^® Irish Whiskey. 40% Alc./Vol. (80 Proof). Product of Ireland. ©2020 Imported by John Jameson Import Company, New York, NY

ABOUT PERNOD RICARD USA
Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA., the world's second largest spirits and wine company. Pernod Ricard employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI) and is part of the CAC 40 index. The company's leading spirits include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Avión Tequila, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlúa Liqueur, Malibu, Martell Cognac, Olmeca Altos Tequila, Beefeater Gin, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Código Tequila, Monkey 47 Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Malfy Gin, Hiram Walker Liqueurs, Midleton Irish Whiskey, Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Aberlour Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Lillet, Jefferson's Bourbon, TX Whiskey, Skrewball Whiskey, Smooth Ambler Whiskey, Rabbit Hole Whiskey, Pernod and Ricard; such superior wines as Jacob's Creek, Kenwood Vineyards, Campo Viejo, Brancott Estate and Sainte Marguerite en Provence rosé.; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines Perrier-Jouët Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne, Mumm Napa.

Pernod Ricard USA is headquartered in New York, New York, and has more than 1,000 employees across the country. As "creators of conviviality," we are committed to sustainable and responsible business practices in service of our customers, consumers, employees and the planet. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active program to promote responsible drinking. For more information, visit: www.pernod-ricard-usa.com.

Media contact:
Blaine Rueber, blaine.rueber@pernod-ricard.com
Jennifer Glassey, JGlassey@webershandwick.com 

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SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA

FAQ

What is the new holiday created by Jameson Irish Whiskey?

Jameson Irish Whiskey has created a new holiday called Jameson St. Patrick's Eve to celebrate the occasion a day early due to Leap Year.

Who are the comedians involved in the Jameson campaign?

Comedians Colin Jost and Michael Che are part of the Jameson campaign, emphasizing the lighthearted spirit and community of Jameson.

What is the main event happening in Times Square on St. Patrick's Eve?

Jameson is hosting a live countdown event in Times Square on St. Patrick's Eve, featuring a surprise DJ performance and a 'rock drop' at 8 p.m. ET.

Where can fans enter for a chance to attend the Jameson St. Patrick's Eve celebration in New York City?

Fans can visit JamesonSPE.com to enter for a chance to attend the Jameson St. Patrick's Eve celebration in New York City.

What organization will benefit from the proceeds of the limited-edition jackets sold by Jameson?

All proceeds from the limited-edition jackets sold by Jameson will benefit the Restaurant Workers' Community Fund (RWCF), a nonprofit dedicated to advocating for food and beverage service industry workers.

What is the price of the Jameson St. Patrick's Eve jacket?

The Jameson St. Patrick's Eve jacket will retail for $150 plus tax with free shipping in the continental U.S.

What is the new flavor introduced in the Jameson ready-to-drink cocktail lineup?

The newest flavor in the Jameson ready-to-drink cocktail lineup is the Jameson Orange Spritz, tapping into the insight that Orange is the top-preferred flavor for whiskey drinkers.