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 second annual competition, which celebrates excellence and creativity in the design of craft spirits labels and packaging, drew 150 entries from more than 70 companies.
Judging Criteria
Judging for the Craft Spirits Packaging Awards took place virtually in October, 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, stay tuned for the next issue of CRAFT SPIRITS magazine. You can click here to subscribe for free.
Best in Show
Hall of Fame Vodka
Hall of Fame Spirits
Scottsdale, Arizona
Designer: Jerry “Bubba” Draper
Bottle provider: Rockwood Glass
Brandy
Gold: Cradle of Liberty Apple Brandy
New Liberty Distillery
Philadelphia
Designers: Steven Grasse’s team at Quaker City Mercantile
Bottle provider: Saverglass
Silver: Brandy No. 83
Charbay Distillery
Ukiah, California
Label design: Susan Karakasevic
Bottle provider: Berlin Packaging/Bruni Glass
Bronze: Coquard Brandy
Wollersheim Winery and Distillery
Prairie Du Sac, Wisconsin
Glass bottle decorating: Loggerhead Deco
Gin
Gold: Garden Club Gin
WanderFolk Spirits
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Label design and concept: David Hoffner (UpsideDown Design) and Derek Duty (WanderFolk Spirits)
Label production: Multi-Color Corporation
Bottle provider: ByQuest
Silver: Fid St Gin
Haliʹimaile Distilling Co.
Makawao, Hawaii
Designer: Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging
Bottle provider: Berlin Packaging
Silver: H.O.B.S. Gin
Young & Yonder Spirits
Healdsburg, California
Art direction and design: Sarah Opatz
Bottle provider: Berlin Packaging
Bronze: American Dry Gin
Greenhook Ginsmiths
Brooklyn, New York
Bottle designer: Weston Heights
Brand identity: threebrand
Bottle provider: Phoenix Packaging
Honorable Mention: Slightly Lost
Iron Fish Distillery
Thompsonville, Michigan
Portfolio
Gold: Iron Fish Distillery
Thompsonville, Michigan
Label design: Iron Fish Distillery
Packaging supplier: Berlin Packaging
Bottle design: Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging
Silver: Hinterhaus Distilling
Arnold, California
Bottle supplier: Berlin Packaging
Label design: Justin Page (Justin Page Design)
Label supplier: Blue Label Packaging
Bronze: Garden Club
WanderFolk Spirits
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Label design and concept: David Hoffner (UpsideDown Design) and Derek Duty (WanderFolk Spirits)
Label production: Multi-Color Corporation
Bottle provider: ByQuest
Honorable Mention: Backwards Distilling
Casper, Wyoming
Rum
Gold: Ålander Nordic Rum
Far North Spirits
Hallock, Minnesota
Design: Jenney Stevens
Bottle supplier: WaterDogs
Silver: Michigan Navy Strength Rum
Iron Fish Distillery
Thompsonville, Michigan
Label design: Iron Fish Distillery
Packaging supplier: Berlin Packaging
Bottle design: Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging
Bronze: 504Bananas Foster
Happy Raptor Distilling
New Orleans
Bottle supplier: All American Containers
Label design: TILT
Honorable Mention: 504Hibiscus
Happy Raptor Distilling
New Orleans
Honorable Mention: Coconut Rum
Beyond Distilling Co.
North Charleston, South Carolina
RTD
Gold: Salted Maple Old Fashioned
Iron Fish Distillery
Thompsonville, Michigan
Packaging supplier: Vetroelite
Design: Iron Fish Distillery
Silver: Orange Crush
ALCO
Philadelphia
Label design: Steven Grasse’s team at Quaker City Mercantile
Bronze: Basil Crush
Hudson Valley Distillers
Germantown, New York
Packaging supplier: Berlin Packaging
Design agency: Clever Creative
Honorable Mention: Fabrizia Vodka Soda
Fabrizia Spirits
Salem, New Hampshire
Honorable Mention: Astoria Mary
Pilot House Distilling
Astoria, Oregon
Specialty Spirits
Gold: Añejo Cristalino
Tequila Komos
New York
Packaging supplier: Anfora
Design: Komos, Inc.
Silver: Extra Añejo
Tequila Komos
New York
Packaging supplier: Anfora
Design: Komos, Inc.
Silver: Joven
BOSSCAL Mezcal and Wolf Spirit Distillery
Eugene, Oregon
Design: BOSSCAL Mezcal and Wolf Spirit Distillery
Packaging supplier: Flores Gonzalez S.A
Silver: Suspect Pineapple Jalapeño Whiskey
Pursuit Distilling Co.
Enumclaw, Washington
Packaging supplier: Saverglass
Bronze: Reposado Rosa
Tequila Komos
New York
Packaging supplier: Anfora
Design: Komos, Inc.
Honorable Mention: Creme de Violette Liqueur
New Liberty Distillery
Philadelphia
Honorable Mention: Sour Cherry Liqueur
New Liberty Distillery
Philadelphia
Vodka
Gold: Hall of Fame Vodka
Hall of Fame Spirits
Scottsdale, Arizona
Designer: Jerry “Bubba” Draper
Bottle provider: Rockwood Glass
Silver: Ocean Organic Vodka
Hawaii Sea Spirits Organic Farm & Distillery
Kula, Hawaii
Design: Jim Grannan
Production specifications: Grupo Pavisa
Packaging supplier: Global Group Co., Ltd.
Bronze: Garden Club Spiced Citrus Vodka
WanderFolk Spirits
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Label design and concept: David Hoffner (UpsideDown Design) and Derek Duty (WanderFolk Spirits)
Label production: Multi-Color Corporation
Bottle provider: ByQuest
Whiskey
Gold: Borchetta Bourbon
Big Machine Distillery
Nashville, Tennessee
Packaging supplier: ByQuest
Distillery credits: Scott Borchetta, CEO; Mark Borchetta, EVP; David Miller, designer; Kylie Judge, GM operations; Cameron Crown, project manager; Clayton Cutler, chief distiller
Gold: Whiskey Society Blended Bourbon Whiskey
Olde Raleigh Distillery
Zebulon, North Carolina
Design: CF Napa Brand Design
Packaging supplier: The Atlas Network
Silver: Mad Angler Whiskey
Iron Fish Distillery
Thompsonville, Michigan
Label design: Iron Fish Distillery
Packaging supplier: Berlin Packaging
Bottle design: Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging
Bronze: Two Peninsula Whiskey
Iron Fish Distillery
Thompsonville, Michigan
Label design: Iron Fish Distillery
Packaging supplier: Berlin Packaging
Bottle design: Studio One Eleven, Berlin Packaging
Honorable Mention: Varchas
Shankar Distillers
Bloomfield Township, Michigan
Honorable Mention: Uncle Boojie’s Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Uncle Boojie’s
Louisville, Kentucky
Honorable Mention: The Magnificent Whiskey
Pursuit Distilling Co.
Enumclaw, Washington
