Here Design’s packaging for The Balvenie’s whisky unapologetically embraces tradition and tactility

Undeniably and unapologetically embracing tradition, distinction and tactility, Here Design’s packaging for The Balvenie’s distinguished range of hand-crafted single malt whisky not only commemorates and champions the craftsmanship of their creation but the legacy they epitomise. Alongside paper artist Owen Gildersleeve, the London-based collaboration saw the pair typifying the spirit’s flavours through the visuals and material effects on the bottles – from foiled characteristic profiles and illustrations of the single malt’s story to layered three-dimensional paper sets – with each element delicately constructing an embellished, abundant aesthetic. “The Balvenie has always had quite a varied typographic palette,” Design Associate Thomas Lacey tells us, “and with the new labels, we have intentionally been quite eclectic with our choices,” visually regaling the tales of each bottle.

“We have worked closely with The Balvenie for a number of years, so we have had time to really understand the brand,” Lacey explains, discussing the studio’s relationship with The Balvenie and the parameters of this specific range. “The main goal with any piece of work for them is to preserve the brand’s authentic commitment to craft,” he continues, offering the project a fairly open licence for new, thoughtful approaches and ideas. “As long as those ideas reflect that commitment,” he adds, manifesting illustratively this time around. “We introduced illustration in a way that felt like a natural step for The Balvenie,” Lacey comments, “in the past, it has been used functionally, but here we’ve added expressive and hand-drawn elements that bring more warmth and humanity,” whilst complementing the natural tactility of Gildersleeve’s input. 

“Owen has been a brilliant partner in this project,” Lacey remarks, “we made it clear from the start that our concepts were very much his to mould as he wanted,” taking Here Design for their word as he distinctly approached every single malt, bottle and flavour individually. “His feel for paper and stock choices is amazing, we gave him some sample labels, and he worked out a beautiful suite of paper stocks for each of the pieces,” he concludes, “which added depth and elegance to the work.”

Here Design

The Balvenie