Description:

Twist Distilling is an artisan distillery hailing from Melbourne. They’ve built their reputation producing liquor by-hand from locally sourced ingredients – which they use in the signature cocktails they serve in-house at Republic Tavern in the city’s north. The Twist team had plans to expand into sales to third-party venues and distributers – with Melbourne Dry Gin and Lemon Myrtle Gin being the two pilot projects for this evolution.

We were tasked with helping them stand out from the crowded market.

Our creative approach embraced fun and unexpected ways into Twist’s label series design. The packaging drew inspiration from the creative craftsmanship of small-batch distilling, along with the spirit of Melbourne at its most original.

Inspired by historical Melbourne and a return to small-batch distilling with herbaceous botanicals, each label featured bespoke collages by renowned artist Emily Forgot – nodding to the Gin’s ingredients and flavour profiles. Gold foils inspired by the Lemon Myrtle Gin highlighted the typography and also reflected the artisan quality of the small-batch bottles. The classic Melbourne Dry Gin’s label nods to historic Melbourne bars with a mint colour and bronze foil detailing, juxtaposed against a modern nude martini collage flowing with gin.

The design system laid the foundation for any new liquors and cocktail blends. It gives each new project a platform for a collage that feels wholly unique to the drink’s character, but still connected to the Twist story.

From the Small Batch Vodka with its big personality, through to bespoke collages for their Negroni, Pornstar and Espresso Martinis, each new concoction by Twist feels like an authentic-yet-unexpected addition to the packaging series. Their work captures the artisanal nature of the distilling process – and the idiosyncratic personality that gives it that extra twist.