J&B Commissioned A Tattoo Artist To Ink 25 Limited Edition Bottles of Scotch.

The idea to tattoo the bottles was devised by French design studio Button Button as an unusual way to commemorate J&B's heritage.





J&B Rare scotch blend whisky was born in London second part of XIXth century from famous wine and spirits merchant Justerini & Brooks willing to create its own house whisky. It is exactly at the same period that tattoo started to spread through London, after the trend coming from Royal Navy sailors used to come back from distant travels sporting tattoo, finally reached British upper class when Prince Bertie (later Edward VII) was first tattooed in 1862 before to spread over all Great Britain and Europe.

Button Button says "As a celebration of this origin we decided to tattoo 25 bottles for real. First thing, we fully covered bottles with a latex skin, like the one used to practice tattoo, slim enough to respect bottle shape and strong enough to be hit many times my tattooer's needles… We decided to color skins with a human skin color to strengthen the tattoo perception and create something intriguing…

Then we asked Sébastien Mathieu, owner of Le Sphinx a private tattoo room in Paris, to support us in this adventure.

Excited by the challenge he immediately accepted… with only a partial idea of how complex it would be… Actually he spent around 20 hours to tattoo each bottle.

Each of the 25 bottle is tattooed from a single design but intrinsically, each bottle is unique."

The 25 bottles, presented in a rough black silkscreened wooden box, were for sale this past winter in Paris at Publicis Drugstore and at L'éclaireur rue Herold. They sold out within a week.



images, info and video all courtesy of Button Button on Behance

Read More »

Add Comment

Arek bottle design, bottles, limited edition, liquor launch, marketing, package design, packaging, tattoo-inspired, tattoos

Soon To Be A Movie, Now In A Bottle. Fifty Shades Of Grey Wines.

I really wanted to title this post "Wine That Comes With Cheese," but the truth is (regardless of my personal opinion) people love this trilogy of books by E. L. James and the powers of character Christian Grey continue to seduce the public. The popular paperbacks have now inspired a collection of wines - a savvy marketing move by Random House.




2012 Fifty Shades of Grey White Silk:


Floral aromatics of lychee, honey and pear are tempered by flavors of crisp grapefruit, mineral and lush pear with a faint hint of butterscotch.

• Winemaker Notes: White Silk is a blend of primarily Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc. This wine was fermented cool, under 50 degrees F, and aged in stainless steel to preserve its delicate and rich character.

2010 Fifty Shades of Grey Red Satin:


This decadent blend has flavors of black cherry, cocoa powder, creamy caramel and vanilla, leather and clove spice.

• Winemaker Notes: Red Satin is a blend of primarily Petite Sirah and Syrah aged in a combination of new and seasoned French oak barrels.

Personally blended by author E L James along with winemakers in California's premium North Coast appellation, Fifty Shades of Grey Wine will allow fans to further explore the world of Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey and personally experience James' passion for wine, showcased throughout the novels. Infusing fine wine cues and storyline elements into this carefully crafted collection, Fifty Shades of Grey Wine blends perfectly James' knowledge of wine and romantic tastes.

"Wine plays an important role in Fifty Shades of Grey, adding to the sensuality that pervades a number of scenes," said E L James. "I've always had a penchant for good wine, so combining two of my passions to blend Red Satin and White Silk was a natural extension of the series. I hope my readers curl up with a glass as they enjoy the romance between Anastasia and Christian."

The Fifty Shades of Grey Red Satin is a decadent red blend of Petite Sirah and Syrah with flavors of black cherry, cocoa powder, creamy caramel and vanilla, leather and clove spice. Aged in a combination of new and neutral French oak barrels, this red blend is the perfect indulgence. Accompanying Red Satin is White Silk, a delicate yet rich white blend of Gewurztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc. White Silk's flavors include floral aromatics of lychee and honey, tempered by flavors of crisp grapefruit, mineral and lush pear with a faint hint of butterscotch. Fermented cool and aged in stainless steel tanks, this white blend offers a delicately playful experience.



The wines are available through the links above and are available in the United States at Albertsons, Wine.com and other retailers nationally for $17.99.

The Books That Inspired The Bottled Vino:


Now available as a three-volume paperback boxed set, E L James’s New York Times #1 bestselling trilogy of books has been hailed by Entertainment Weekly as being “in a class by itself.” Beginning with the GoodReads Choice Award Romance Finalist Fifty Shades of Grey, the Fifty Shades Trilogy will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

The The 3-volume Boxed Set includes the following novels:

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY: When college student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly Ana realizes she wants this man, and Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian’s secrets and explores her own desires.


FIFTY SHADES DARKER: Daunted by Christian’s dark secrets and singular tastes, Ana has broken off their relationship to start a new career. But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and while Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Ana is forced to make the most important decision of her life.


FIFTY SHADES FREED: Now, Ana and Christian have it all—love, passion, intimacy, wealth, and a world of possibilities for their future. But Ana knows that loving her Fifty Shades will not be easy, and that being together will pose challenges that neither of them would anticipate. Just when it seems that their strength together will eclipse any obstacle, misfortune, malice, and fate conspire to turn Ana’s deepest fears into reality.


These books are intended for mature audiences.

Read More »

Add Comment

Arek books, bottle design, bottles, brand marketing, erotica, liquor launch, news, wine glasses

David Yurman Tops Off Patron Anejo With A 24k Gold Embellished Dagger.

For the second time in a series of designer collaborations (the first was this 2012 Guitar Stopper by John Varvatos), Patron Spirits introduces a limited edition bottle stopper for this holiday season. The new collectible bottle accessory is crafted exclusively for Patron Anejo by Evan Yurman, Chief Design Director for David Yurman men's and timepiece collections. Patron's relationship with Yurman emerged from a shared commitment to understated luxury, meticulous craftsmanship and masculine elegance.



Die-cast in solid metal and electroplated in gun metal and 24K gold, the bottle stopper is an exceptional two-toned sword featuring elaborate metal carvings inspired by those depicted on the hand guards of 18th century Japanese Samurai swords; a reflection of Yurman's love for unique and rare objects, artwork and artifacts. Like Patron Anejo, Yurman's bottle stopper is bold, intricate and truly distinct.



"It was a thrill to work with Patron on this unique project," said Yurman. "Throughout time, armor and weapons have represented the highest artistic and technical ability of the artisans who craft them. For me, there is an inseparable parallel between a finely honed weapon and a beautifully crafted piece of jewelry – they are truly one in the same and a natural extension of the work that inspires me." This inspiration is unmistakable in the one-of-a-kind, sophisticated design Yurman created to adorn the iconic bottle of Patron Anejo.



Each bottle of Patron Anejo is handcrafted with recycled glass and produced with unparalleled attention to detail. Patron Anejo is a delicate blend of uniquely aged tequilas, all aged in small white oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months. Similar to winemaking, each vintage of Patron Anejo is carefully blended to produce a smooth and distinctive-tasting tequila.

The bottle stopper, which comes in a special limited edition gift box, will be available at select retailers across the U.S. in November 2013 for a suggested retail price of $59.99.

Patron Spirits

Read More »

Add Comment

Arek bottle design, collectibles, designer weapons, gifts for men, jewelry design, liquor launch, luxury, men's gifts, weapons

Architect Zaha Hadid Designs Unique Bottle & Box For Leo Hillinger's Icon Hill Wine.

Leo Hillinger presents an iconic wine with packaging created by an icon herself. On October 4th of this year, at the Albertina in Vienna, Austrian winemaker Leo Hillinger unveiled his exceptional red wine blend, the 2009 Icon Hill in a precious bottle and box created by Pritzker-winning architect Zaha Hadid.

"With the unique design and the ICON HILL ​​is optimally presented. Powerful and intense it is drawn from the creation in its spell. Zaha has perfectly embodied in the wine bottle shape."-- Leo Hillinger

Zaha Hadid, above, says of the design:
"The elongated volume of the bottle has been derived from the profile of liquid droplets. A continuous spatial curve was then projected onto the bottle’s surface, defining areas for the concave indentation and suggesting the waves created when droplets break a liquid’s surface.

The concave indentation and the bottle’s surface have the same curvature, enabling a set of bottles to interlock and be perceived as singular whole. A smaller indent and volume has been created at the base of the bottle for correct handling and to accommodate any tartrates.

To achieve the precision and accuracy required for production, the shape of the bottle was created using NURB-based CAD software. The bottle manufacturer directly implemented this 3D master geometry to produce the cast iron moulds for the glass forming process."

The Reviews
If you are wondering whether or not the wine is as good as the bottle, it has received a rating of 95/100 from Falstaff, the ultimate Austrian wine guide.



Falstaff chief Peter Moser who tasted the wine in advance and gave the following critique:
"Deep ruby ​​garnet with purple hues, subtle edge whitening. In the nose with fine Kräuterwürze backed mature heart cherry fruit, a hint of dark berries, spices in the background and nuances of fine wood, a delicate hint of nougat, multifaceted bouquet that develops well with air. On the palate, complex, extraktsüße dark fruit, prominent and well-integrated tannins that give the wine length, hints of blackberries and ripe plums, pleasant acidity that for vitality provides, salty minerality on the finish holds good, disposes of secure aging potential, fine cherry fruit in Rückgeschmack. If one were to fully enjoy this wine at this youthful stage, it is advisable to decant the bottle for a good two hours." (optimum eating ripeness 2016 - 2030)

and from René Gabriel:
"The color is a deep dark red with black core. On the nose the wine is fresh, cool and seems so very precise, fruit and seasoning are very harmonious with black berry fruit, smoky Brazil tobacco, licorice and black pepper. ICON HILL ​​displays a beautiful concentration. On the palate it is creamy, with dark caramel, prunes and ripe, balanced tannins stützende. This is not a wine that comes as a new multi-bomb wine, but considered his future and first in terms of class and harmony. Its beautiful balance we must here assume a potential that is loose and overheating of the first 10 years. His most beautiful ripe to eat I expect in about three to four years."



Only 999 bottles of ICON HILL are available. The ICON HILL ​​is available at 99 euros per bottle in all Leo Hillinger retailers and online www.leo-hillinger.at.

Read More »

Add Comment

Arek architect zaha hadid, architecture, bottle design, liquor launch, package design, packaging, reviews, wine glasses

Hannibal Lecter and Princess Bride Wines For The Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas

The Drafthouse Cinemas, a chain of movie theaters that serve food and wine, have occasionally commissioned special movie-related wines which they pair up with the appropriate meals and serve at their unique cinemas. The special movie-themed wines are beautifully designed and packaged with labels and branding by the Austin based creative firm Helms Workshop.



SILENCE OF THE LAMB WINES


Their latest offering is a Chianti and Pinot Grigio inspired by the movie Silence Of The Lambs.







“The Cannibal Chianti” is a DOCG-wine from a vineyard situated between Florence and Sienna. It is a blend of 85% Sangiovese, balanced with smaller contributions of Canaiolo and Malvasia del Chianti. The nose is loaded with dark berry fruit with bass notes of allspice and baked quince. Its mouth feel is medium-bodied and well balanced, with savory plum and tobacco leaf notes leading to a slight sandalwood finish.



“Suit Yourself Pinot Grigio” is a 2012 vintage with a mixture of fruit from California’s Central Coast and inland vineyards. It offers a lush bouquet of tangerine and orange blossom. The palate starts with a crisp entry and a velvety mouth feel that bursts into flavors of tropical peach and Mexican limes with just a hint of honey, leading to a zesty, citrus-laced finish.



A limited number of packaged wine sets will be available for purchase online only. “The Cannibal Chianti” set comes with a leather red dragon bag of fava beans with a recipe for their preparation by Alamo Chef Trish Eichelberger. The “Suit Yourself Pinot Grigio” set features a burlap bag containing a bottle of Buffalo Bill lotion.


above: The four-course menu, created by Alamo Drafthouse Austin Market Chef Trish Eichelberger served at their various locations, along with the wines and movie.

To develop the bottle and package design of these wines, Alamo Drafthouse again turned to local Austin creative firm Helms Workshop. The subtle yet intricate designs unfold like a puzzle for fans of the movie, with tiny details referencing the film and its central characters of Buffalo Bill, Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling.



“Suit Yourself Pinot Grigio” and “The Cannibal Chianti” will only be available for one year. Both of these covetable wines will be available at all Alamo Drafthouse locations for $8 a glass and $32 a bottle (prices may vary).

Retail bottles are available for purchase here and at select Alamo Drafthouse locations where local laws permit.

PRINCESS BRIDE WINES
Hello. My Name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.

UPDATE: The Princess Bride Wines ARE still available for purchase, only without the box or extra goodies. You can buy them here.

Their previous offering, launched last year on Valentine's Day, was also beautifully designed by Helms Workshop. The movie-themed wines featured a Cabernet and a White inspired by the cult classic The Princess Bride.



As fans will recognize, “The Bottle Of Wits,” is derived from the iconic “battle of wits” scene when Westley first rescues Princess Buttercup from Vizzini and his henchmen.



The custom wine line includes two varietals: “Inconceivable Cab” and “As You Wish White”.

The As You Wish White:


The Inconceivable Cab:


Wine charms: A six-fingered man. A Sicilian. The Dread Pirate Roberts. Princess Buttercup:


The menu that accompanied the Princess bride Wines and movie showing :


The folks over at Helms Workshop in Austin had this to say about the project:
"When you leave design school and look for work with your portfolio of fictitious student projects, half of your interviewers pause to tell you that, in the “real world,” you’ll never have the opportunity to design wine packaging. Much less, packaging themed after one of your favorite movies. Those folks never had the chance to work with Tim League and the team at Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas.





In looking at developing an identity for Alamo’s in-house branded wines, we quickly decided that it would be impossible to sum up everything that makes the Alamo unique in a single packaging system. Why not redesign the wine each year, based on a film that aligns with the brand? Alamo’s 2012 offering became two wines inspired by The Princess Bride, in honor of the 25th anniversary of the film."

“The “Battle of Wits” sequence between Cary Elwes and Wallace Shawn easily stands toe-to-toe with “the Sideways Spit Bucket” and “The Silence of the Lambs Chianti slurp” as wine’s shining moment in film,” said Alamo CEO and Founder Tim League. Workshop worked to pack the full scope and wonder of the film experience into the packaging.

Buy the Princess Bride wines (bottles only) here.

All photos of Silence of the Lambs Wines courtesy of Alamo Drafthouse
All Princess bride Wine photos with streamer backgrounds by Annie Ray
other photos courtesy of Helms Workshop

Read More »

Add Comment

Arek bottle design, bottles, branding, design, events, food, liquor launch, marketing, movies, news, package design, packaging, pop culture art, video

One Step Beyond Beer. Gladness Lager-like Ale From Madness.

The beer from bands trend continues with a new brew from the chart-topping Ska band Madness. The beer, described as "A lager that's an ale" was brewed in conjunction with Growler Brewery (formerly Nethergate) in Essex.



Gladness is 4.2% alcohol and a combination between an ale and a lager- or as the band's publicity calls is “A lager that’s an ale – that’s totally mad.” It is brewed using local Maris Otter malt, a traditional ale variety, and Tettnang and Saaz hops, which are usually associated with European-style lagers. The blonde beer is said to be highly refreshing with a lovely subtle hop flavour and aroma, reminiscent of a pilsner.



above: Paul Gower, left, head brewer at Nethergate's Growler Brewery, Madness frontman Suggs, center, and keyboard player Mike 'Monsieur Barso' Barson celebrate the launch of the band's official beer, Gladness

Named after a line in their well-known song "Madness", the beverage will be stocked at 800 venues, owned by Nicholson's Pubs, across the U.K. for the next three months.

Buy Madness Music

Read More »

Add Comment

Arek beer branding, bottles, liquor launch, music, music label, news, packaging