Designed by: Appartement 103 | Country: France
Nick and Amanda Barthelemy, residents of Stillwater, Minnesota, launched a new category of an adult beverage called “Stilly.” The RTD (ready-to-drink) sector is booming in the US. While RTDs and Hard Seltzers often contain artificial flavors, Stilly is well on its way to establishing itself as a premium brand.
“Stilly beverages are NOT seltzers, and they’re not your ordinary cocktails in a can; they’re an all-new category of unique adult beverages called a “stilly. It’s a light and refreshing cocktail made with premium vodka or other distilled spirits, fine bubbles, a squeeze of natural juices, and natural flavors. The exact ingredients and processes used to make a “stilly” are a closely guarded secret. However, a “vodka stilly” starts with Stilly vodka, developed to be of superior quality, exceptionally smooth, and distinctive to accentuate the fruit flavors present in the drink.”
The packaging
Stilly Vodka teamed up with Appartement 103, a Paris-based branding agency, to create packaging designs that would establish Stilly as a premium alternative in the RTD sector. The top portion of the packaging works as the brand badge with the company name and the logo, while the bottom half reveals the flavor specifications.
“The ‘iconic S’ acts as a powerful communication tool which can be used across many different touchpoints; it evokes the notion of fluidity and mixology with the curved lines. It also serves as a nod to St. Croix river that crosses Stillwater, where the brand comes from.
As an inspiring means to guide the way, the red star symbolizes Stillwater and Minnesota’s motto: «L’Etoile du Nord’.
Furthermore, the copper circle anchors the brand, enhancing visibility and contrast; also evoking the production process, which involves distillation in copper stills. It connects with the brand world, expressing a feeling of togetherness and memorable moments in a circle of friends.”
