Inspired by the Earth + Sea of the Isle of SkyE
Overview
57º Skye Earth + Sea Gin’s packaging celebrates the rugged beauty and rich heritage of the Isle of Skye. It evokes the dramatic topography, nautical roots, and the resilience of its people while embodying the premium, handcrafted quality of the gin.
Challenge
The brief was to develop packaging that genuinely reflected the artisanal, handmade approach of the gin-making process. The design needed to stand out on crowded bar shelves dominated by homogenous, polished labels without losing the authenticity and subtlety of a traditionally crafted product.
Scope
Hoop-la managed the full creative and production process, working closely with the client to deliver:
• Brand strategy and positioning
• Visual and verbal brand identity
• Packaging design and illustration
• Ancillary brand development
• Range expansion strategy and design
• Print and production management
• Brand strategy and positioning
• Visual and verbal brand identity
• Packaging design and illustration
• Ancillary brand development
• Range expansion strategy and design
• Print and production management
Approach
The project involved collaboration between designers and client to intricately blend form and function. Every detail was refined to reflect the values of craftsmanship, tradition, and natural beauty, creating a package that tells the story of the product at every touchpoint.
Art Direction
The label invites tactile discovery through embossing and mottled transparent foiling. These elements invite consumers to interact physically with the bottle and uncover layers of story and texture. The colour accents distinguish individual variants and are designed to remain visible after the bottle is opened, thanks to a clever tamper-proof neck label design.
Solution
The packaging communicates premium quality through understated sophistication while connecting emotionally to Skye’s landscape and heritage. It balances the need for shelf standout with an authentic artisan feel, achieving both visual impact and brand integrity.
Results
57º Skye’s packaging has been highly praised for its clarity, its sensory appeal, and differentiation in a competitive market. It resonates with consumers who value genuine craftsmanship and premium quality, strengthening brand loyalty and shelf presence.
Awards
57º Skye Earth + Sea Gin was shortlisted for the Fedrigioni TOP packaging awards.
The Fedrigoni Top Award is a prestigious international competition celebrating excellence in design and craftsmanship. Established in 2005, it recognises outstanding projects from graphic designers, printers, publishers, brands, and creative teams around the world.
Client TESTIMONIAL
As a proud Hebridean Island brand, we wanted a partner who really understood our heritage, the story behind our gin, and how handcrafted it truly is. Our brief was clear: we needed a label that honestly reflected the earth + sea artisanal nature of our craft gin making.
With so many pristine, polished bottles on the shelf, we wanted ours to stand out by embracing a handmade, authentic look. Hoop-la had quite the challenge, they had to polish our story, but not too much. The result was a brand strategy and bottle design that combines subtle, understated sophistication with an unrivalled sense of craftsmanship.
Throughout the process, Hoop-la showed incredible dedication and collaboration, making sure every detail was perfect. Their work captures both our premium quality and rugged nautical character of the island, helping us stand out boldly and memorably in a crowded market.
We can’t recommend Hoop-la enough for any brand looking for passionate experts who truly bring your story to life.
SÉAMUS Ó BAOIGHILL - CO-FOUNDER - 57° SKYE EARTH + SEA GIN
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