Here's a little love goin' out to a Seattle based company.

In the picture, you'll see this year's version of Jones Soda Holiday Pack. This is a continuation of their annual holiday promotion that has been so successful that they've created two seperate production releases:

• A national release containing sodas flavored like Brussels Sprout with Prosciutto, Cranberry Sauce, Turkey & Gravy, Wild Herb Stuffing, or Pumpkin Pie.
• A regional release with sodas flavored like Broccoli Casserole, Smoked Salmon Paté , Turkey & Gravy, Corn on the Cob, and Pecan Pie.

I had purchased the Regional release and had set my sights on creating a witty, whimsical post for Thanksgiving day. Tara and I took a drink from each flavor (and yes, broccoli casserole soda is as nasty as you might expect it to be), and I took notes like a good reviewer should.

Then the blazing hammer of common sense smacked me on the head. Jones Soda doesn't give one rat's tuckus on what I have to say about these flavors. What I found myself participating in, even now, is possibly the best marketing campaign in the past two decades, if not longer.

Here we have Jones Soda, selling several horrible, horrible products -- So horrific that people can't help but notice, and in many cases, willingly taste these drinks. All the while, the phrase "Jones Soda" is repeated on the lips of people throughout the land.

There's also something to be said about those of us who drink these concoctions. How does one rationalize drinking a bottle of Salmon Pate Soda? Probably the same way the one rationalizes eating Rocky Mountain Oysters or Silkworm Pupas.

Kudos to Jones Soda -- the only company that intentionally sells crappy sodas which consumers willingly drink, and then gets everyone to talk about them. It takes a bit of genius to accomplish that.

Conversely, Coca-Cola unintentionally sells crappy sodas which consumers willingly drink.

It's a funny world, I tell ya'.

Technorati Tags: Food and Drink, Jones Soda, Soda, Marketing