Brands around the globe have embraced April Fool’s Day in 2026 with a slew of drinks pranks ranging from haunted whisky to pickle spritz and spirits repurposed as car fuel.
So why do brands love jumping on the April Fools bandwagon? The answer is the power of “prankvertising” – a mash-up of the words “prank” and “advertising”.
According to The Conversation: “These “professionally developed” pranks are created by advertising agencies, often planned well ahead of execution and with anticipated results. In digital media, prankvertising has become a tactic for individuals’ attention in a highly crowded market.
“Research has found a carefully crafted “prankvertisement” can increase an individual’s perception of brand “friendliness” and “love”, generate greater engagement and memorability, leading to a stronger willingness to buy – even when the product or announcement they are advertising is fake.”
AI is also making it a whole lot easier for everyone to get in on the act.
Check out some of our favourite pranks below … because the world really needs a laugh right now.
Brookie’s shared this surprising news: “With petrol prices officially crossing the $3.00/L mark, the Byron hinterland has just found a way to fight back and it smells remarkably like award winning gin.
“In a move that is shifting gears across the coast, Brookie’s (Cape Byron Distillery) has officially unlocked its ‘Botanical Bio Fuel’. By repurposing the ethanol rich ‘Heads & Tails’ from their world class distillation process, they’ve engineered a high performance, renewable alternative to Unleaded 95 that’s ready to keep the community moving.
“This isn’t just a side project; it’s a direct response to the national fuel crisis, proving that the solution to global problems can often be found in our own backyard.”
The Whisky List introduced DramBags, noting: “Excise is up. Shipping is up. Glass bottles are… still heavy.
“So we’ve streamlined whisky. Whisky. Reimagined. Meet DramBags. The first ever single malt Scotch whisky in powdered form.
“Precision concentrated. Perfectly calibrated. Ready in seconds.
“Same whisky. Zero glass. Collect them all.”
Karu Distillery joked: “Cereally crunchy. With an a-peel-ing flavour, Ethereal Cereal is gluten free and contains your daily dose of Vitamin AI.”
Move over limoncello spritz, Innocent Bystander debuted Pickle Spritz, saying: “It’s kind of a big dill. Now introducing Pickle Spritz. Our boldest release yet.”
Corowa Distilling Co introduced Sheep Select: “After 10 years of distilling, we’ve refined our process. Every barrel is now evaluated by a panel of locally sourced sheep. If they sniff it and walk away… it’s ready.”
Edinburgh-based whisky consultant and rare cask broker Blair Bowman listed for private sale a haunted bottle of Bell’s Original Blended Scotch Whisky. The bottle, believed to have been purchased at the Co-operative supermarket in Bowmore during a £5 off promotion circa 2018, was offered by an anonymous consignor at an asking price of £666.
Pre-sale inspection identified a number of anomalies. When carried past a mirror, the bottle produced no reflection. Two additional mirrors were sourced and yielded the same result.
An overnight inspection log compiled by an independent specialist recorded a knocking sound at 00:12, an unexplained shift in bottle position of approximately 4cm at 01:03, and a marginal decline in liquid level between 22:41 and 03:01. The capsule remained intact throughout.
Following the infamous theft of a large shipment of KitKat bars in Europe, which equated to approximately 12 metric tonnes of chocolate, Manchester-based Salford Rum shared it was launching a new cream liqueur.
“We would like to share our sincere thoughts and condolences to KitKat following the recent news,” the distiller’s Instagram post read. “On a totally unrelated note, we are excited to introduce our brand new KitKat Cream Liqueur Rum. Strictly limited 12-tonne batch. When it’s gone, it’s gone.”
Vodka distiller Desi Daru debuted Butter Chicken Vodka, teasing: “At Desi Daru, we believe vodka should do more than just go down smoothly. It should surprise you. So today, we are proud to unveil something truly different: BUTTER CHICKEN VODKA .
“This year, we asked ourselves a simple question: What if we could make our vodka taste like butter chicken?
“And the rest is history…
“Distilled seven times for exceptional smoothness and infused with real butter chicken masala, this is vodka reimagined. Deeply rich, aromatic, and unlike anything we’ve ever made before.
“Vodka isn’t supposed to taste like this. That’s exactly why we made it. What cocktail shall we make first?”
Singapore’s Tanglin Gin unveiled its ‘most unexpected innovation yet’: the world’s first ‘gin-sect’ repellent spray.
The distiller posted on Facebook: “Meet the Tanglin Singapore Gin Insect Repellant Spray — because why smell like harsh chemicals when you can smell like a perfectly balanced cocktail?
“Infused with the same bold botanicals that define our award-winning gin, this isn’t just any bug spray. Engineered to respond to your body heat and Singapore’s humidity, it’s crafted with: Juniper Berries – The ultimate “gin-sect” deterrent; Kaffir Lime & Sweet Orange – Crisp, zesty freshness that confuses the swarm; and Vanilla Orchid & Java Pepper – A spicy-floral finish that bites back.”
Jägermeister tapped into the intersection of masculinity and meme culture with Jägermeister Stag Serum, a fictional “growth formula” promising to transform the booming men’s wellness category with a full rack of stag antlers.
The campaign parodied the surge of hair loss and supplement brands by flipping the script in a cinematic, high-production social spot, blending beauty-industry tropes with Jäger’s iconic stag symbolism.
Jägermeister Stag Serum is powered by the brand’s signature 56 botanicals and leans into absurdity with lines like “side effects may include hair growth” and “let your stag out.”