Packaging Solutions
Drawing inspiration from the magnificent countryside around Yorkshire, Spirit of Yorkshire’s whisky reflects the landscape of Filey Bay, from the flavour blends to the tranquil colour palette of the bottles.
When the distillery approached Smurfit Kappa Composites in early 2020, the company was keen to retain its strong branding in the secondary packaging.
Working together, the Smurfit Kappa design team and Spirit of Yorkshire decided on key details for the premium drinks packaging.
To ensure that the strong brand was maintained, the design team made sure that every hue of ink matched the bottle inside, tone for tone.
Each of the four colours balances one another, yet stood out against the background. The copper foil curving across the tube added an eye catching element of luxury that would help Spirit of Yorkshire stand out on the shelves, in complete harmony with the curvature of the tube itself.
Working on another facet of refinement, the lids and bases matched the colour palette of the tubes themselves – a blue base with a copper lid. This added touch of care sends the clear message to customers that Spirit of Yorkshire pour attention to detail into every aspect of their whisky – from the first glance to the last sip.
The solid blue bases ground the brand, harking back to Yorkshire’s blue collar history as well as the scenic seaside landscape of Filey Bay itself. The copper lids and tube detailing, meanwhile, echo the beautiful copper stills used by the brand to create their artisan product.
This balance between hard working and luxurious is one that Spirit of Yorkshire tries hard to maintain and one of the aspects that we worked on was an element of premiumisation. As such, the compnay suggested that the Filey Bay whisky be housed in sturdy composite tubes – rather than the square cartons used for the core range bottles.
This allows the bottles to cause on-shelf disruption. The tubes are also more protective than the standard premium drinks packaging carton, limiting breakages across the supply chain and providing a more impressive, tactile experience to customers when picking it from the shelves.
Coupling the copper foiling detail – which is showcased both across the graphic element and throughout the text – with the curve of the tube also causes the light to catch the packaging, making it yet more memorable and striking.
Working together, the Smurfit Kappa Composites team and Spirit of Yorkshire brought to life a stunning design that tells the story of the brand and encourages purchase. It hints at the luxury inside without being flashy, blending colour with uncoated paper to achieve the right balance.
