Authentically Guided by Nature

Situated on the banks of the pristine Derwent River in Tasmania, is Derwent Distillery.

Tasked with creating a premium Whisky range, Studio Guild set out to depict the essence of Tasmania in a bottle – textural, artisan, rustic, earthy, organic, historic and bespoke. This high-end range of Whiskies tells the story of the environment surrounding the distillery. The outlook onto the river, the native bush land, the bird life and the seasonal, low-lying fog, unique to this area, called the Bridgewater Jerry.

To authentically create an artisanal style, a hand-carved linocut was created by Studio Guild, then printed on a hand-press. The decision to create this by hand was to be true to the brand ethos, but more importantly, to pick up on all the nuances and flaws a computer generated image could not create. The random, imperfectness is what gives it its artisan quality. Each Whisky is differentiated by colour but a seamless brand architecture remains.

An unusual label shape and a fresh new brand identity was also created. Studio Guild extended on the previous branding by adding in the Bridgewater Jerry and the distant hills of Mount Dromedary, named because of its camel-like hump.

A matt foil was chosen to create just a small punch of contrast against the toothy, textural stock and intermittent embossing. As the consumer picks up the bottle to explore the tactile label, they are met with the unexpected delight of the die cut river flowing down the back.

The bottles are made from 100% recycled glass, the label stock also made from recycled paper and has the added appeal of an easy peel-off backing for the bottle to be recycled, or more hopefully, reused. The closures are compostable and 100% plastic free. All these touchpoints have underpinned the reason behind the tagline – Authentically Guided by Nature.

After researching what is becoming more important to the consumer now and in the coming years we discovered – “…consumers will reframe their relationship to the natural world, impacting where they spend their time, the brands they support, and what they consume.
With a resurgence in next-gen outdoor activities and a growing emphasis on sustainability, drinks brands are redefining their connection to the environment through intentional ingredients and eco-friendly practices.
This quality-focused shift transforms spirits into coveted collector’s items, with forward-thinking brands enhancing limited-edition bottles through crafted storytelling.
– Drinks Digest