Brand Home Immersive AR and VR ExperiencE
Overview
Bombay Sapphire’s distillery at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire is a remarkable mix of history and innovation. The site’s mineral-rich water once made it the perfect location for a paper mill producing paper used to print Bank of England banknotes. More recently, architect Thomas Heatherwick’s extraordinary glasshouses have made the distillery visually iconic. We brought this story and gin-making craft to life through a pioneering Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) experience.
The activation highlights Bombay Sapphire’s botanicals and distillation process, granting visitors immersive virtual access to the distillery’s intricate process, architectural splendour and stunning grounds.
Challenge
Bombay Sapphire wanted to create a multilingual interactive experience that would engage both gin connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike. The goal was to present the physical distillery tour in a virtual space, providing sensory immersion and accessibility to audiences worldwide who may not be able to visit in person.
The production posed significant logistical challenges. Filming took place inside a working distillery that remained open to the public throughout the shoot. Planning and execution required meticulous attention to detail to ensure that every shot was captured efficiently without disrupting the operations of the facility or visitor experiences.
Description
The experience begins with users physically interacting with a Bombay Sapphire bottle. Augmented reality allows them to rotate the bottle and reveal an animated carousel of the eleven botanicals used to make the gin. Each botanical comes to life through detailed animation, accompanied by a voiceover explaining its origin and the flavour it imparts to the gin.
After exploring the botanicals, users are transitioned by a Bombay Sapphire logo animation into a 360° virtual reality tour of Laverstoke Mill. This immersive tour blends video footage and animation to guide visitors through the distillery, enhanced by narration and rich soundscapes that bring the heritage and craft to life.
Scope
Hoop-la oversaw the complete delivery of the project in partnership with the client, including:
• Direction and production of the 360° video shoot and animation
• Post-production of video elements
• Interface and user experience design
• Development of the iOS and Android apps
• App testing and troubleshooting
• Design and print of Google Cardboard viewing headsets and support materials
• Activation video production and technical support at Tales of the Cocktail launch
• Translation and localisation of the apps into four languages
• Production of activation videos for Heathrow Terminal 5
• Direction and production of the 360° video shoot and animation
• Post-production of video elements
• Interface and user experience design
• Development of the iOS and Android apps
• App testing and troubleshooting
• Design and print of Google Cardboard viewing headsets and support materials
• Activation video production and technical support at Tales of the Cocktail launch
• Translation and localisation of the apps into four languages
• Production of activation videos for Heathrow Terminal 5
ApproacH
This project married the latest digital technologies with rich brand storytelling. Working closely with the Bombay Sapphire team we ensured that content would educate and entertain, and sensory elements followed the immersive nature of the physical tour. The use of drone-filmed footage, detailed botanical animations, and evocative soundscapes combined to create a multifaceted virtual experience.
Art Direction
Botanical animations were designed to balance scientific accuracy with elegance and style. The 360° video footage captured the distinct architecture of the distillery and its natural setting using cinematic techniques to create a truly immersive and aspirational atmosphere.
Sound design was carefully crafted to enrich the experience. Voiceover narration and ambient audio work together to bring the distillery’s sensory environment to life, creating cohesion between the visual and aural elements.
Solution
The AR and VR app was launched with strong acclaim at the Tales of the Cocktail conference in New Orleans. It offered attendees an engaging and accessible narrative about Bombay Sapphire’s historic brand home, botanicals and craftsmanship. The virtual tour extended the reach of the physical distillery well beyond on-site visitors.
Following the launch, the app saw sustained activations worldwide. It was featured in multiple events, the most notable being a unique installation at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5, where visitors completed the virtual tour before enjoying a bespoke cocktail experience inspired by the distillery.
Results
The experience became a important part of Bombay Sapphire’s marketing and engagement strategy. It received positive feedback for its originality and quality. The digital distillery experience has strengthened brand loyalty, expanded accessibility to Bombay Sapphire’s story and fortified its reputation as an innovator in premium spirits.
Client TESTIMONIAL
I had the privilege to work with Hoop-la on a very innovative video project. They not only helped us to build the project from scratch but also led it with professionalism and expertise. Their creativity, their network of contacts, as well as their trouble shooting skill allowed us to deliver in limited time, a state of the art Virtual Reality experience combined with Augmented Reality. Hoop-la always found solutions and innovation to make unique projects happened. In addition their leadership is a key asset during the production phase, the shooting and the post production.
Thibault ruffat - Global Brand Homes Director - Bacardi
Brands aiming to blend technology, storytelling, and sensory design into immersive experiences can rely on Hoop-la for expert insight. Contact us to explore creating journeys that connect audiences with your brand.
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