Sponsored by the Glass Packaging Institute
We realize that many craft spirits producers put just as much thought into what’s on their bottles and cans as what’s in the bottles and cans. To help celebrate the best in craft spirits labels and packaging, the American Craft Spirits Association and CRAFT SPIRITS magazine are proud to present the Craft Spirits Packaging Awards. The inaugural competition, which celebrates excellence and creativity in the design of craft spirits labels and packaging, drew more than 200 entries from more than 100 companies.
Judging Criteria
Judging for the Craft Spirits Packaging Awards took place virtually in late November and early December of 2020, with an esteemed panel of judges evaluating each entry on the following criteria.
Aesthetics: How does the packaging appeal to you from a design/artistic perspective?
Innovation: How original is the design? Does it stand out on a shelf?
Emotional Appeal: How does the packaging make you feel? Does it connect with you?
Brand Communication: How well does the packaging tell the story of the brand/product through visual/design/copy elements?
The packages that rated highly on all of those criteria are the ones that connect with consumers and drive trial and sales, even when those consumers have not previously encountered your products.
To see all the medalists, scroll below. To see photos of each medalist and to learn more about our judges, click here to read more in CRAFT SPIRITS magazine.
Best in Show
Brooklyn Gin
Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn Gin was created with Brooklyn at its forefront. Taking inspiration from traditional apothecary bottles and the Brooklyn Bridge, the bottle was designed to reflect quality both inside and out. The custom bottle features a bespoke Kings County medallion and it was purposely designed with a bottle cap to stamp ice.
Portfolio
Gold: The Family Jones
Denver
Design by Consume & Create and Susan Orr; entered by TapiUSA
Silver: Corsair Distillery
Nashville, Tennessee
Design by Murmur Creative; bottle manufactured by Saverglass
Bronze: Iron Fish Distillery
Thompsonville, Michigan
Design by Iron Fish Distillery and Brand Tonic
Rum
Gold: Esencia Barrel Aged Spiced Rum
Burl & Sprig
Muskegon, Michigan
Design by Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging’s Design and Innovation Division
Artwork by Iain Macarthur
Silver: Touche 8 Years Old Rum
Burl & Sprig
Muskegon, Michigan
Design by Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging’s Design and Innovation Division
Artwork by Greg Bromley
Bronze: Migration 23 Years Old Rum
Burl & Sprig
Muskegon, Michigan
Design by Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging’s Design and Innovation Division
Artwork by Stefano Bonazzi
Bronze: Frigate Reserve Rum
Frigate Reserve Rum
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
Design by CF Napa Brand Design
Bronze: Pure Single Rum
Ninefold Distillery
Dalton, Scotland
Design by Contagious
Vodka
Gold: Banyan Reserve Vodka
St. Petersburg Distillery
St. Petersburg, Florida
Design by St. Petersburg Distillery and Dunn & Co.
Silver: Blood Sweat Tears Vodka
Wolf Spirits Distillery
Eugene, Oregon
Design agency: Moxie Sozo; brand owner: Umberto Luchini; entered by Deussen Global Communications
Bronze: Harridan Handcrafted Vodka
Harridan Vodka, Inc.
New York, New York
Design by Teddy Mathias
Bronze: Duffy’s Run Vodka
Restless Spirits Distilling Co.
North Kansas City, Missouri
Design by Whiskey Design (Matt Wegerer, creative director); labels prepared by Phenix Label
RTD
Gold: Gin & Tonic
Social Hour Cocktails
Brooklyn, New York
Design by EBBING Branding + Design
Silver: Automatic Jones Rock & Rye
The Family Jones
Denver
Design by Consume & Create and Susan Orr
Bronze: Margarita
Fling Craft Cocktails | Boulevard Brewing Co.
Kansas City, Missouri
Design by Whiskey Design
Bronze: Botanical Gin and Tonic
Fling Craft Cocktails | Boulevard Brewing Co.
Kansas City, Missouri
Design by Whiskey Design
Gin
Gold: Brooklyn Gin
Brooklyn Gin
Brooklyn, New York
Silver: Lind & Lime Gin
Port of Leith Distillery
Edinburgh, Scotland
Design by Contagious
Bronze: Juniper Grove Alpine Gin
Bently Heritage Estate Distillery
Minden, Nevada
Design by AETHER NY; custom bottle manufactured by Pavisa; custom closure by NimbleJack
Whiskey
Gold: Organic Red Rider Rye Whiskey
Rockfilter Distillery
Spring Grove, Minnesota
Design by Werner Design Werks
Silver: Whiskey War Barrel Select
High Bank Distillery
Columbus, Ohio
Design by Adam Hines
Silver: Organic Giants of the Earth Bourbon Whiskey
Rockfilter Distillery
Spring Grove, Minnesota
Design by Werner Design Werks
Bronze: Fordham Lee Bourbon Whiskey
Fordham Lee Distillery
Middletown, Maryland
Design by CF Napa Brand Design
Bronze: Four Grain Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Black Button Distilling
Rochester, New York
Design by Lauralee Végvári
Bronze: A-O Come Hell or High Water Oregon Single Malt Whisky
Pilot House Distilling
Astoria, Oregon
Design by Amy Bornstein Photo & Design
Bronze: Three Chord Whiskey Drummer
Steel Bending Spirits
Clarence, New York
Three Chord label and logo design by CF Napa Brand Design; Whiskey Drummer picture design by Richard Christian; label by Jim Charlier of JCharlier Communication Design
Bronze: Iron Fish Rye Whiskey
Iron Fish Distillery
Thompsonville, Michigan
Illustration by Dani Knoph
Bronze: GullyTown Single Malt Whiskey
Restless Spirits Distilling Co.
North Kansas City, Missouri
Design by Whiskey Design (Matt Wegerer, creative director); labels prepared by Phenix Label
Bronze: Organic Fence Jumper Bourbon Whiskey
Rockfilter Distillery
Spring Grove, Minnesota
Design by Werner Design Werks
Specialty Spirits
Gold: Roy’s Demon Barley Shochu
American Shochu Co.
Frederick, Maryland
Art and package design by Takayuki Grayson Amano, Apocrypha Art
Silver: Milk Can Cinnamon Moonshine
Backwards Distilling Co.
Mills, Wyoming
Design by Ignite Beverage Branding
Silver: Milk Can Original Moonshine
Backwards Distilling Co.
Mills, Wyoming
Design by Ignite Beverage Branding
Bronze: Hecate Coffee Liqueur
Bently Heritage Estate Distillery
Minden, Nevada
Illustration by Paula Schultz; bottle manufactured by Vetroelite; additional design elements by AETHER NY
Brandy
Silver: Gewurztraminer Brandy
Bridgeland Distillery
Calgary, Canada
Design by Karen Collens of Carbon Point Creative
Bronze: Peach Brandy
Peach Street Distillers
Palisade, Colorado
Design by Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging’s Design and Innovation Division
