With few exceptions, gin labeling today rarely stands out on the wine and spirits shelf, often relying on a single-hue bottle and subtle design to attract attention. Not so the trippy, psychedelic label for New Zealand’s Chemistry Gin, which uses a surprising foiling technique and Clear Gloss varnish to lure the eye and quicken the pulse.
Karori Drinks Company Co-Founder Dr. Marie van Drimmelen, a biochemist, together with wife Laura Bruce, set out to craft a gin using scientifically refined flavor combinations – hence the name Chemistry Gin. From a packaging standpoint, they wanted the label to communicate not only how the gin is in perfect balance on a molecular level, but also to emphasize how relationships between people are a type of chemistry, too.
Design firm SingleDouble ran with this idea, emphasizing the wonder of science and chemical interactions by creating colorful, abstract orbs, illustrated by Igor Morski of Illustration Room, that seem to be caught in the act of interacting with one another.
CGI renders: Tricycle Studio
MCC Labels began by applying Silver Cold Foil to finger-pleasing, uncoated Fedrigoni Manter Cotone Bianco. In this in-line process, glue is laid down first before the foil is placed on top. The Silver foil was then overprinted with CMYK to create these shimmering, super-colorful designs. These were then topped off with a layer of Clear Gloss varnish to raise the illustrations and text slightly, and to boost their shine, giving the illustrations even more of an eye-catching, 3-dimensional quality.
CGI renders: Tricycle Studio
And in keeping with Karori Drinks Company’s commitment to “treading lightly on the planet,” the gin is made from sustainably sourced botanicals, and the bottle from 100% post-consumer glass, which requires up to 35% less energy to make. The unique imperfections found in the glass of each bottle also add to its handcrafted look and feel.
Determined to help other women enter the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, the company has pledged to donate $2 to women early in their careers for every bottle of Chemistry Gin sold. Of course most people will buy Chemistry Gin for its super-colorful label – a multi-colored representation of how we are attracted to other people and nature all around us, particularly over a gin cocktail or two.
In fact, if you look at the label long enough you’d almost swear the orbs are moving closer together, almost like bubbles in a lava lamp. And no, you don’t have to drink the gin in order to experience this effect…but it can’t hurt 😉
Cold foiling was an excellent choice for this piece, but there are so many other ways to get foil’s shimmer and shine. Discover the pros and cons of each and every one of them – including digital foil – download our free Foil Cheat Sheet now!
