Ryan Reynolds Kicks Off Baseball Season With A Spirited Twist

Just in time for Opening Day, Aviation American Gin and its co-owner Ryan Reynolds are stepping up to the plate with a campaign that’s as spirited as the gin itself, and it comes with a little help from someone who actually knows a thing or two about the game.

In a brand-new ad released this week, Ryan Reynolds enlists the help of 2x MLB All-Star outfielder Bryan Reynolds to bring his signature brand of humor to the baseball world.

The video, which blends tongue-in-cheek writing with Reynolds’ classic self-deprecating style, aims to toast the return of America’s pastime, even if the actor’s sports lingo is just a little off.

“Happy opening match everyone,” Ryan declares in the video, before the Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder steps in to clarify some facts and deliver a few deadpan punchlines of his own.

Bryan, while dutifully reading a script “written” by the "Deadpool" star, promotes Aviation American Gin with comically awkward baseball references, like the claim that the gin “always hits a triple play” and that every drink “bats a hundred.”

Bryan's performance, intentionally wooden and increasingly skeptical, highlights the absurdity of Ryan’s baseball fandom, eventually leading him to ask the question on everyone’s mind: “Has Ryan ever seen baseball?”

It’s all in good fun, of course, and perfectly in line with the offbeat marketing style that has helped Aviation Gin carve out a distinct voice in the spirits world.

Since Ryan joined the brand in 2016, Aviation has become known for its witty campaigns, whether starring the actor himself or recruiting unexpected partners for humorous twists, and this latest effort is no exception.

For fans looking to get in on the action (and maybe enjoy a celebratory sip), Aviation is also offering a $10 rebate on any bottle purchased. By texting AVIATION to 24272 and submitting proof of purchase, customers can receive $10 back via Venmo or PayPal within 24 to 48 hours.

When VP of Marketing Joen Choe reflected on the brand’s success in 2018, he credited Aviation Gin’s seamless partnership with Ryan to the actor’s relatable charm, irreverent humor, and, of course, his “incredible bone structure.”

"The beauty of the partnership is that it fits so seamlessly with the brand," Joen Choe told Forbes at the time. "From its founding, Aviation was always about flying in the face of tradition, a modern, American take on gin versus a lot of the stuffy British heritage you see out there."

"Ryan [Reynolds] has built his career and his place in popular culture by being himself and not taking his celebrity status too seriously," Choe added. "He breaks the fourth wall like no one else and people really respond to the fact that he's just a normal, decent person. With incredible bone structure."

In regard to receiving backlash to including Ryan in the product, Choe says they have had "zero."

"No one has positioned Ryan as a distiller or a gin expert by any means, least of all Ryan himself," he explained. "He just loves drinking Aviation and we're not trying to be something we're not. Aviation is still crafted in batches of less than 100 cases in Portland, Oregon."

The "Deadpool and Wolverine" actor continued, "The botanicals are placed in mesh bags and wacked with a cricket bat to help unlock more flavor. The labels are affixed to each bottle by hand. It's crazy how much love is put into this product, and Ryan is as much a fan of the liquid as he is in front of the camera."

As baseball season kicks off, Aviation Gin is reminding fans that you don’t have to know all the rules to enjoy Opening Day, you just need a good drink and a sense of humor.