“Pattisons is best” was a catchphrase that refers to Pattison’s Whisky, a historic brand that was once popular in the whiskey industry.
Pattison’s Whisky was founded by Robert and Walter Pattison in Edinburgh, Scotland, in the late 19th century. The brand quickly rose to prominence and became one of the largest whisky companies in the world during the whisky boom of the late 1800s. Their success was fuelled by aggressive marketing tactics and ambitious expansion.
One of the most unique and interesting aspects of the Pattison whiskey company was their use of parrots in their marketing efforts. The Pattison brothers were known for their extravagant and attention-grabbing advertising strategies, and the use of parrots was one of their most memorable.
500 parrots were trained to say “Pattisons is best!” and were displayed in cages in bars and pubs where the company’s whiskey was sold. Customers would be entertained by the talking parrots and were encouraged to try Pattison’s whiskey.
The parrots became a symbol of the Pattison brand and were featured prominently in their advertisements and promotional materials. The use of these clever birds helped to distinguish the company’s whisky from competitors and added a playful and memorable element to their marketing campaigns.
While the Pattison brothers’ whiskey empire ultimately ended in scandal and bankruptcy, the legacy of their use of parrots in advertising remains a quirky and fascinating footnote in the history of the whiskey industry.