Top spirits with award-winning designs
In an industry as lucrative, interesting and saturated as spirits, design and packaging has quickly become a competitive arena to demonstrate individual greatness.
Long gone are the days when hedonistic glitz and glamour in spirits design captured and retained consumer attention. Now, shoppers crave authenticity, storytelling, craftsmanship and personality in the products they covet.
This belief has never been clearer than in The Spirits Business’s recent Design & Packaging Masters 2015, where a panel of experts closely scrutinised an array of bottles entered into the competition.
Looking across the full gamut of spirits categories, the panel assessed everything from quirky and fun bottles with illustrated labels, to elegant and refined crystal decanters.
While the individual scores of each entrant are not disclosed, these are six of the highest ranking Master medalists recognised in the competition, listed in no particular order.
Click through the following pages to view the top spirits with award-winning designs. Please note that the name of the company listed may be either the producer of the brand, its distributor, or designer.
Don Papa Rum 10 Year Old
Company: Stranger & Stranger
Entered into the Rum category of The Design & Packaging Masters, Don Papa Rum 10 Year Old was praised for the “storytelling” of its “unique brand heritage”. Described as the world’s first single island rum from the Philippines, Don Papa features a series of intricate illustrations which demonstrate an “exotic twist” on old Spanish landlords. No fewer than 50 detailed and authentic images of animals and insects also make an appearance.
Christopher Wren Gin
Company: City of London Distillery
Launched just last month by the City of London Distillery in partnership with retired Tanqueray master distiller Tom Nichol, Christopher Wren Gin pays homage to a famous London architect. During the 1600s, Christopher Wren transformed the City of London and designed the now iconic London landmark St Paul’s Cathedral. Staying true to its inspiration, Christopher Wren Gin was praised by judges for its “unique shape” reflective of the cathedral itself, making it “one of the best” new bottles released this year.
1897 Quinine Gin
Company: Atom Supplies Ltd
The gin sectors’ success continued when another Master medal was awarded to newcomer 1897 Quinine Gin. Described by the judges as demonstrating the “exciting change of pace” within the craft gin category, 1897 Quinine Gin features an eye-catching image of a cinchona tree, the bark of which is one of the botanicals contained in the spirit itself. Cinchona bark is a traditional source of quinine that has been used as an antimalarial for centuries. At least £5 on every 1897 Quinine Gin bottle sold will be donated to charity Malaria No More UK, enough to buy, deliver and hang a mosquito net for a family living at risk from malaria.
Generations Mortlach 75 Years Old
Company: Gordon & MacPhail
One of the most expensive entrants in The Design & Packaging Masters 2015 was Mortlach 75 Years Old, which was awarded a Master for its classy and sophisticated exterior. In addition to its beautiful tear-shaped decanter, the bottle also came packaged in a luxury Aniline leather travel bag. Each decanter, costing £20,000, is individually numbered and handcrafted with 75 multi-level ‘cuts’, each cut representing a year of the whisky’s maturation. Forming part of Mortlach’s Generations range, the whisky contains liquid first put into Sherry casks at the start of World War Two.
Dewar’s Scratched Cask 12 Year Old
Company: Stranger & Stranger
Similar to Don Papa Rum 10 Year Old, Dewar’s Scratched Cask 12 Year Old has been designed by Stranger & Stranger. Praised by judges for demonstrating a “consistent identity”, the whisky clearly communicates its unique production process, while at the same time staying true to its core branding. Dewar’s Scratched Cask is a limited edition blend of up to 40 single malt and single grain whiskies that have matured in Scotland for at least four years. This liquid is then finished in American oak casks, made from a mix of Bourbon and virgin oak, which have been heavily charred and then lightly scratched.
Mr Black Cold Press Coffee Liqueur
Company: Love Drinks
Named Design and Packaging Best in Class 2015 by our panel of judges for exemplifying “quality” illustrations and “phenomenal detailing” was Mr Black Cold Press Coffee Liqueur. The bottle also features an exciting element of discovery, with an image of Mr Black by Australian artist Dale Bigeni appearing at the liquid level falls. Launched in the UK earlier this year, is created at a small distillery on the central coast of Australia using single origin Arabica coffee beans from Ethiopia, Brazil and Papua New Guinea are selected to create an in-house blend.
