Friday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1939. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, a talented seal is balancing rings on its nose, first one, then another and finally the three rings of the Ballantine logo. His wings even grew a thumb so he could order a beer “the Handy way.”
Beer In Ads #2287: Three Rings, Another Strongman
Beer In Ads #2286: Three Rings, Erupting Volcano
Wednesday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1940. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, this one shows a tropical island volcano erupting and spewing a ring of ash into the sky. First one, them a second and finally there are three forming the Ballantine logo hovering high above the volcano.

Beer In Ads #2285: Three Rings, Killing Turkeys
Tuesday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1948. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, this one shows a man holding a hatchet chasing a turkey around in circles, presumably trying to kill him for Thanksgiving dinner. After running rings around the farmer at least three times, he’s kicked up three rings on the ground forming the Ballantine logo.
Beer In Ads #2284: Three Rings, Another Train
Monday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1940. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, this one shows another toy steam train chugging along. This one also has a face, but at least there’s a person driving it. But the result is the same, itβs also puffed out three rings in the shape of the Ballantine logo.

Beer In Ads #2283: Three Rings, Train
Sunday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1948. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, this one shows a toy steam train chugging along and around a beer bottle. It’s blowing smoke out its smokestack until, as you’ve undoubtedly guessed, it’s puffed out three rings in the shape of the Ballantine logo.
Beer In Ads #2282: Three Rings, Pipe Rings
Saturday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1940. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, this one shows a man sitting in an easy chair smoking a pipe. I’ve seen smoke rings, but pipe rings? That’s what he’s making, first one, then another and finally three, making, what else, the Ballantine logo in the air.

Beer In Ads #2281: Three Rings, More Unicycles
Beer In Ads #2280: Three Rings, Spilled Milk
Thursday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1940. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, this one shows a cat knocking over a milk bottle, creating a ring of the floor. I guess the cat keep playing with the bottle, causing it to roll and keep spilling, creating a second and then a third ring until there’s a Ballantine logo in milk on the floor and a cat who knows he’s done a good job making the “okay” sign with three raised fingers to “order the ‘handy’ way.”

Beer In Ads #2279: Three Rings, Winter Sled
Wednesday’s ad is for Ballantine, from 1948. In this ad, part of a series progressing from one, to two, to three rings, this one shows a sled pulled through the snow by a white horse. It’s obviously Christmastime and the couple appears to be delivering Ballantine, but it seems to be that each house they visit adds one more smoke ring from their chimney so that by the third home it’s the Ballantine logo in fireplace smoke rings.
