Ryan Reynolds goads rival football fans with Aviation Gin
Actor Ryan Reynolds has released a limited edition Wrexham AFC Aviation American Gin bottle in celebration of the team’s recent success.
Reynolds, who invested in the gin brand in 2018 and retained ownership interest after selling a majority stake to Diageo in 2020, also co-owns Wrexham AFC, the Welsh football club now playing in England’s Championship division.
Since Reynolds took over the club alongside It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor Rob McElhenney, Wrexham AFC has enjoyed three consecutive promotions.
In honour of the club’s journey to the Championship, Reynolds has released a commemorative pack and bottle, which combines two of his big business ventures outside of acting.
The bottle reimagine’s Aviation American Gin’s design with motifs from Wrexham AFC, including a textured, patch-like label of a large crest representing the club’s heritage, and a distinctive red strip stamp down the bottle neck that nods to the ‘legendary’ Turf Pub, a local spot central to the team’s community.
In addition to the bottle, the pack includes scale-print patterns inspired by Wrexham’s promotion-winning jerseys, a Wrexham bottle scarf, and a QR code that gives access to exclusive content and a sweepstake.
The sweepstake (open to those aged 25 and over) gives fans the chance to ‘experience Wrexham AFC like never before’, with round-trip travel to Wales, premium tickets to a Wrexham home match, a private stadium tour, a visit to the Turf Pub, and accommodation.
Ricky Collett, global brand director for Aviation American Gin, said: “Wrexham AFC has defied the odds and built a global fanbase through persistence, passion, and community.
“At Aviation, we know what it means to redefine expectations – like reimagining how deliciously versatile gin can be. As a partner that’s been with the team every step of the way, we’re proud to raise a glass to this new chapter and bottle the glory.”
The pack is available while supplies last at retailers nationwide in the US, online, and at the Aviation American Gin Portland Distillery.
Reynolds has also put his face behind a new TV spot to support the launch.
In the advert, he plays to the banterous side of the game, ribbing Wrexham’s rival towns, where he says the bottles have “been a huge hit” and are “flying off the shelves”.
The brand joked: ‘Cue Charlton, Chester and Stockport fans flushing gin down urinals and dumping into rivers’.
The actor has previously dropped limited edition Aviation bottles to mark the release of last year’s superhero blockbuster Deadpool vs Wolverine, in which he stars as Deadpool.
You can watch Reynolds in the Aviation x Wrexham spot below:
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