Raising the Bar

Revealing the inspirations behind liquor bottle designs.

1. St-Germain elderflower liqueur ($33)
“I wanted it to be a pinch effeminate, which is why I chose an hourglass shape, like the shape of a woman’s body,” says designer Robert Cooper.

2. Corzo tequila ($60)
“Unlike the typical approach to tequila packaging, we wanted to reflect the modern side of Mexican design,” notes designer Fabien Baron. “A more innovative and unexpected bottle was also a good complement to the traditional craftsmanship of the Corzo tequila.”

3. Cabana cachaça ($35)
“Most of my competitors try to play up the samba/tropical imagery of Brazil,” says Matti Anttila, president. “We’ve presented a modern take on the category and country.”


4. Tommy Bahama rum ($28)
“The broad shoulders give it a strong masculine feel,” says Bill Henderson, vice president and art director.

5. Ultimat vodka ($58)
“It’s handmade, it’s a decanter, it’s cobalt blue; there are no other bottles like that,” says brand manager Andrew Bak.

6. Grey Goose La Poire vodka ($30 )
“The impressionist artwork—using the inviting colors of yellow, green, and blue—really provides warmth to the product,” says Amanda Schilt, Grey Goose marketing manager.

7. The Glenrothes scotch ($78)
”The artisan look of the bottle brought home the careful craftsmanship in bringing the vintages to light,” says director Ronnie Cox.

8. El Diamante del Cielo tequila ($45)
“It has a much taller bottle than other tequilas, with very clean and slim lines—an elegance, so to speak,” says designer Billy Nichols.

9. Christiania vodka ($32)
“It doesn’t yell at you as much as it whispers and seduces,” says president Kevin Richards. “Also, the red flag at the top is a real eye-catcher, inviting people to look further.”

10. G’Vine gin ($38)
“The green coating on the shoulder highlights the preciousness and refers to the vivid brightness of the vineyard in spring,” says founder Jean-Sebastien Robicquet.

11. Palmes d’Or champagne ($175)
“The bottle is fashioned after the black pearl necklace I gave to an opera diva I was in love with,” says founder Nicolas Feuillatte. “It’s like strands of black pearls pressed together.”

12. 10 Cane rum ($43)
“The innovative bottle design, use of high-quality glass, and sophisticated imagery,” says vice president Rob Bryans, “is a stark contrast to the feeling commonly associated with rum—pirates, parrots, frozen drinks, and spring break.”

13. Gran Centenario Leyenda tequila ($250)
“The decanter style bottle—with its radiating sunburst motif—was designed to frame the gold coin image of the label,” says designer Marcus Klim. “The facets of the glass create a range of amber tones that reflect the ultra-premium liquid in this decanter.”