Soltera Rum is Australia’s first and only rum brand to be run by a solo female; founder and distiller, Keri Algar. From her small shed distillery in Cabarita Beach on the New South Wales coast, Keri lovingly distills, bottles, labels, and markets every drop herself; with immense pride and care.

Soltera, which means ‘bachelorette’ in Spanish, is both a tribute to Keri’s Spanish heritage and a celebration of her solo journey in the industry. While her original packaging was adored, it wasn’t speaking to a broader rum-drinking audience. “I’d been in operation for four years, so it felt a little early to rebrand,” says Keri. “The branding was popular, but it was very feminine, and I felt it was alienating a wider market that was important to reach.”

To reposition and reinvigorate Soltera, Keri reached out to Studio Guild. The result is a vibrant revolution, one that captures Keri’s personality, honours the liquid, and celebrates Soltera’s roots in Cabarita Beach.

“We wanted to reflect the incredible energy and positivity Keri brings to everything she does,” says Trish Dunstone, Creative Director at Studio Guild. “Her passion shines through, so it was important the labels carried that same spirit. We wanted people to feel her story in the design, in every illustration and tactile detail.”

The new look pays homage to the flavoursome liquid, and to how far modern Australian rums have come from their storied past. Influenced by both South American art and the laid-back energy of coastal Australia, this unique and colourful synergy lent itself to a vibrant celebration of colour. The bespoke illustration includes detailing such as the pandanas found at Cabarita Beach, banksia and wattle. The depth of the illustration paints a picture of Soltera’s unique story with many influences, coming together in celebration.

Everything Keri does is hands on, so we transitioned the previous label format from two separate labels to one single label wrap. The new label features a distinctive, custom shape that creates visual impact with minimal production cost. By consolidating it into one label, we have streamlined the application and ensured there’s dedicated space for Keri to handwrite her batch numbers. Each side of the bottle reveals a different shape and visual, inviting discovery from every angle.

The brand architect has allowed the brand to adapt with the introduction of the Special Cask Rum, in order to reach multiple consumers within the range.

Our client couldn’t be happier with the result “Studio Guild took time to research my product, my brand, my community, where I get my molasses, they even investigated my small town, Cabarita. Some details they discovered served as the basis of the label design. This is what makes my label really distinctive.
What I had with Soltera was memorable, but didn’t scream rum and alcohol.
Now, I have a unique label that says this is a rum brand, it represents me and my story.”