Designing for a gin icon By Knockout Design
For the best part of 10 years, Dominic Burke has worked on Bombay Sapphire, supporting the growth of its portfolio with packaging solutions that crystallise the brand’s iconic aesthetic.
nited by a passion for design and a reputation for innovation, this creative partnership has turned out showstopping packaging experiences time and time again, from an exquisite bottle commemorating the 250th anniversary of the brand’s 1761 recipe to the multi-award-winning GTR pack featuring the first-inmarket use of electroluminescence ink. When Burke set up Knockout in 2018, Bombay Sapphire was one of the first companies to become a client. The Bacardiowned gin brand immediately engaged the new agency’s team of drink experts in an ambitious programme to bring several new expressions to market. With an intricate understanding of the
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brand’s visual equities and a pioneering spirit, Knockout has supported Bombay Sapphire in the successful launch of multiple new offerings in the past two years, including the brand’s first venture into RTD (ready-to-drink). New generation of gin lovers With growing popularity, the gin category has attracted a newer, more modern audience interested in flavour innovations and new formats from brands that are as accessible as they are alluring. In recognition of this evolution, Bombay Sapphire developed its new Stir Creativity platform and set the course for developing the portfolio with new expressions that would excite and inspire this new young crowd of gin lovers. Knockout’s task was to flex and stretch the brand’s visual identity, finding ways to communicate the new propositions and modernise
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its look whilst staying faithful to the core equities that make Bombay Sapphire so iconic. Bombay Bramble, which launched in March 2020, answered the rising demand for flavoured gin with a more refined, sophisticated spirit. The design puts a twist on the brand’s existing architecture with a delicate frame of berry brambles etched in rose-gold and a clear label to celebrate the liquid’s ruby red colour. These details not only add a touch of elegance, but also reflect the craftsmanship that sets Bombay Bramble apart from its pink competition. In designing Bombay Sapphire Sunset, Knockout needed to convey the offering’s complex flavour profile whilst also evoking the mellowing mood of its unique drink occasion. With a gradient that ascends from golden orange to twilight blue and an exotic
