Bad Johnnie Blog Post

When culture, creativity, and craftsmanship meet, something bigger than a product is created. That’s exactly what happened with the Bad Johnnie cocktail cup, a collaboration between Hitex Marketing Group and Johnnie Walker that quickly became one of the most talked-about promotional pieces tied to Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rico residency.

What started as a fast-moving project turned into a cultural moment that was featured across major global publications including Forbes, GQ, Rolling Stone, and industry media.

From Cocktail to Cultural Experience

The Bad Johnnie drink was launched as part of Johnnie Walker’s “Keep Walking a lo Boricua” campaign, a celebration of Puerto Rican identity and culture.

According to Rolling Stone, the limited-edition cocktail combines Scotch whisky with tropical Puerto Rican ingredients, creating a drink that is “refreshing, bold and deeply Latin.”

The campaign highlighted Puerto Rico’s growing cultural influence and celebrated the creativity, music, and community that define the island.

The Cup That Became a Collector’s Item

To bring the campaign to life at Bad Bunny’s record-breaking concert residency in Puerto Rico, Johnnie Walker turned to Hitex Marketing Group to design and produce the official Bad Johnnie cocktail cup.

Hitex ideated, designed, and delivered the cups in just 35 days, producing everything in-house to meet the tight timeline. 

The result was more than just drinkware. Fans lined up across bars and venues in Puerto Rico to get their hands on the cup, turning it into a viral collector’s item.

As Hitex founder Enrique Perez explained:

“When you think about Bad Bunny and the philosophy… of Puerto Rico, it becomes so much more than a cup.” 

The cups were intentionally designed to fit within Johnnie Walker’s responsible drinking guidelines while still delivering a memorable brand experience.

Global Attention from Major Media

The cultural impact of the Bad Johnnie cocktail and cup quickly gained international attention.

Forbes highlighted the drink as one of the most iconic Bad Bunny-inspired cocktails, noting that it became a staple across Puerto Rico during the artist’s sold-out residency. 

Behind the scenes, Hitex moved quickly to bring the concept to life. According to the Advertising Specialty Institute, the team developed the idea in record time.

“Everything happened overnight,” says Enrique Perez. “We had a firm idea within 24 hours, and within 48 hours it was a done deal.”

Perez also noted that AI helped accelerate the early stages of the project.

“AI allows us to get the first half of any project done quicker, and gave us a real opportunity to win, but more importantly, it gives our artists more time to be creative.”

Hitex also sized the cup strategically to align with Johnnie Walker’s responsible drinking guidelines, ensuring the cups did not exceed 10 ounces. Bartenders at exclusive bars across Puerto Rico served the signature cocktail in the Bad Johnnie cup, turning it into a collectible symbol of the residency and the cultural moment surrounding it.

Where Culture Meets Creativity

At Hitex, we believe the most powerful promotional products are the ones that tell a story.

The Bad Johnnie cup was designed to do exactly that; turning a simple piece of drinkware into a cultural artifact tied to music, community, and Puerto Rican pride.

From San Juan bars to international media coverage, the project showed how thoughtful design and strong partnerships can transform a promotional product into something people truly connect with.

And sometimes, even collect.