Aviation Gin Takes on National Vodka Day With Ryan Reynolds-Voiced Ad

Comedian Yakov Smirnoff changes his name and chooses sides in the battle of clear liquors

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Ryan Reynolds’ voice has been a bigger boon to brand awareness than his actual face recently. So he does the talking while comedian Yakov Smirnoff does the mugging in the latest ad for Aviation American Gin.

The ad for the spirit brand, developed by marketing agency Maximum Effort (also founded by Reynolds and now owned by MNTN), was released on National Vodka Day.

“Yikes. Like everyone, I almost forgot it was #NationalVodkaDay. Well, almost everyone,” Reynolds said in a statement.

Smirnoff, the actor and writer whose career reached its apex in the 1980s during the end of the Cold War, was born Pokhis but took his stage name from the familiar Diageo liquor brand.

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