As an admirer and purveyor of all things aesthetically pleasing, I find myself getting lost in the world of package design. Being the thing that we see and use everyday, package design might be the best form of advertising for any product. One of my personal favorite sectors of packaging is alcohol. When I head into the adult candy stores we like to call liquor stores, a well designed six-pack or creatively engineered bottle will definitely coerce me into buying.
Below you’ll find Chief Crew’s tribute to some of the best booze packaging out there.
BEER
Dru Bru is a smaller brewery out of Seattle offering their “Bru” in a 32 oz. mini growler that can be refilled with different batches any time you visit their facilities. Very cool concept and even cooler growler design.
Firewater Brew is one of my all-time favorites. Not only is the rustic packaging unique and near and dear to my heart, but the case has a second life. It unfolds into a board-drinking game that utilizes the bottle caps as game pieces. It’s an awesome concept that unfortunately was just a design project.
Black Market Goods Brewing is another great design concept for beer. The practicality of this idea is not great, but as a gift or novelty item, I would definitely give it a taste.
Take Away Beer is from a chain of pubs called Mug Pub in Moscow that brew their own beer. It’s the same idea as take-away coffee, down to the paper cups and different marks on the cup to distinguish the brew.
VODKA
Samurai Vodka is a package design frequently featured on design blogs — and for good reason. The outer packaging and bottle both work perfectly with the name and strategy.
House of Bols Vodka is quite unique. They say all vodka is the same but I beg to differ. With a crisp taste similar to that of Ketel One and a bottle that is reminiscent of luxury colognes, this one deserves a spot on our, and any, list of cool package designs.
Black Elk Vodka is a refreshing change from the norm. Every famous vodka including Smirnoff, Absolut, Grey Goose and others have been branded in a clear glass bottle. I never really understood this because almost all vodka is clear so why wouldn’t they get creative with the bottle? Black Elk did just that.
GIN
Prickly Pear Gin is one out of a set of three different spirits designed by Drew Hammond for the Spirit of Texas Distillery that incorporates some great colors and type work.
Hendrick’s Gin is, plain and simple, the best gin on the planet. It helps that the bottle is mysteriously seductive and as pictured below, even the Wall Street Journal agrees with me.
WHISKEY, BOURBON and SCOTCH
Lucifer’s Elixir is a piece of student design work of a bourbon whiskey. There is something that just works when you combine wood, straw and whiskey.
Balblair is a great collection of Scotch whiskeys that blend the classic prints of Scotland dress with some unique bottle and cap shapes.
Heritage whiskey is another piece of student design work that shows just how great our world could be if creatives were allowed to have full freedom when designing.
RUM
Kraken Rum is another liquor that I’ve grown to love. When it comes to rum, I have a hard time enjoying classics like Captain Morgan and others of the same sort. Black spiced rum just seems to be much richer and smoother.
Root Rum is another example where simplicity is king. Clean lines and a good product puts this one on our list.
TEQUILA
Alacrán Tequila: A beautiful bottle and a delicious drink. That’s all you need.
Yule Login Tequila is a nice switch from traditional Mexican-influenced tequila packaging. The bottle comes in a hollowed out wooden log to coincide with the name.
WINE, CIDER and OTHERS
Diwine – The Black Edition is a very sleek and attractive look for a wine bottle.
Pacharan Pamplonica is a very, very strong beverage made in the Basque Country of Spain. It has a unique taste, and this unique bottle is a great look for it.
Honey Moon Honey Wine has an awesome bottle design that goes perfectly with the product. Served hot or cold, honey wine is quite a treat.
The post Packaging: Spirits and Other Booze appeared first on Chief Crew.
