IRN-BRU embraces innuendo in Nessie ad

The closing line of the new IRN-BRU advert made Creative Moment chuckle like schoolkids. But where does it stand in the pantheon of risque campaign quotables?

There’s been a bit of an uptick in frivolous, humorous ads of late, devoid of deeper messages. The IRN-BRU Nessie Nectar advert is certainly in this vein: a whimsical campaign featuring Dundee actor George Duncan Kierans, who plays the character Angus McLean, a self-proclaimed fifth-generation "Nessie milker."

Set against the misty backdrop of a famous loch, McLean proudly showcases his rustic milking shed, complete with old photographs of his ancestors "pulling away at that legendary teat".

In true IRN-BRU fashion, the advert blends absurd humour with Scottish charm. McLean demonstrates his questionable milking technique on practice udders and belts out a loud Nessie-attracting cry, all part of his unusual skill set passed down through generations.

The advert ends with a cheeky piece of advice from his father: "It always tastes better when you’ve tugged it yourself", prompting mirth from the Creative Moment team.

The Nessie Nectar edition of IRN-BRU is available for a limited time, offering fans a chance to enjoy a new twist on the beloved soft drink

The campaign marks the culmination of IRN-BRU's nearly 30-year partnership with Edinburgh-based creative agency Leith. The ads are filled with mythical whimsy and supposedly lift the lid on the unconventional processes that go into IRN-BRU Xtra’s new flavours, including Nessie Nectar and Unicorn Tears.

Risque advertising

Dancing the line between obscenity and lolz is a bit of a tightrope act. Microsoft XP's ‘bra removing’ advert fell foul of regulators for being excessively risque for TV. The ad featured a man having difficulty undoing a woman's bra, until he finds out that he needs to enter a password before he can remove it.

Ann Summers, meanwhile, played it close to the line with its ‘bean flicking advert’ in which a woman flicks a literal kidney bean across her floor. The tagline reads, 'flick your bean better', which apparently wasn’t taken literally, relegating the ad to just appearing on bar TVs. What’s so wrong about a bit of competitive legume action anyway?

In Singapore, meanwhile, Burger King ran an ad for its ‘Super Seven Incher’, which promised to “blow your mind away”. Subtle, it was not. Amusing? Yeah, a bit.