The Glenlivet is made in Speyside, Scotland, an area famed for its rugged countryside, pure water and smooth, delightfully complex-tasting whiskies. With this history and setting in mind we were briefed to create packaging for a new whisky created in the honour of its pioneering founder George Smith. A hard-working and visionary character, Smith built and defended his distillery from smugglers who threatened to both take his life and his livelihood. Never backing down, his irrepressible spirit and determination ensured that The Glenlivet not only survived but prospered.

Proud of The Glenlivets past but forward-looking to its future, the packaging design for Founder’s Reserve uses a fresh blue to maximize shelf impact and draw consumer attention. Focusing on the man behind the malt we combined a dramatic crop of Smith’s signature for authenticity with this bold use of blue to invite reappraisal for the archetypal Speyside malt.

Since the launch in Spring 2015 Founder’s Reserve has been received positively by industry professionals and consumers alike for both the quality and taste of the whisky and the head-turning packaging that it comes in.