Cedar Ridge Whiskey
Packaging / Photography / Point of Sale / Video / Commemorative / Web Design
Better With Age
The Brief
Can consistency help a maturing whiskey brand to the next step?
The Opportunity

From the first distillery to open in Iowa since Prohibition, Master Distiller Jeff Quint uses a grain-to-glass approach including locally sourced corn. The packaging has always reflected a small batch, home-grown feel to ensure the premium, hand-crafted whiskeys command attention. But after earning top honors in a pair of premier competitions, Cedar Ridge’s reputation grew and distribution followed. The time had come to evolve the look to be more reflective of a mature distillery backed by a team working at the height of its powers.

Packaging

As part of a packaging refresh, FUEL developed a label system for the family of Cedar Ridge whiskey to ensure the line continues to grow. The color palette played a big part to help distinguish each SKU, along with embellished line art to house typography. To maintain connection to the original bottle, the design team retained the tape on top.
Cedar Ridge bourbon package before

Before

Cedar Ridge bourbon package after

After

Cedar Ridge Whiskey labels color palette
Special times call for special editions. FUEL helped Cedar Ridge design a commemorative 4th of July label to celebrate The Heartland’s Bourbon.

Photography

Refined photography was shot in environments around the distillery to further the authenticity of the brand and its place in the spectrum of premium whiskeys. In short, this is tasty, high-quality liquor.

Cedar Ridge Whiskey photograph collage
Beyond bottle shots, art direction leveraged lifestyle photography aimed at drawing attention to the people, place and process that make Cedar Ridge distinct.
Cedar Ridge Whiskey bottles lined up in front of rick house barrel

Point of Sale

In-store materials emphasized the shift in the look of the bottle and label to connect the dots for devotees while still attracting new converts.
Cedar Ridge Whiskey new look point of sale poster
Cedar Ridge Whiskey neck hanger for point of sale

Video

Featured on the site, the lead-in video showcases the conceptual process for the glass and label.

Web Design

To help the distillery grow its presence within the Cedar Ridge portfolio, FUEL developed a site featuring just the whiskeys and spirits. The web design took a layered approach to featuring the flagship Iowa Bourbon while giving other spirits and special editions their due.
Bill Bollman
Creative Director

Bill Bollman is FUEL’s Creative Director. Before co-founding FUEL in 2001, he worked for Horizon Communications, JW Morton and Basler Design Group. Bill studied Illustration at Hawkeye Tech in Waterloo, Iowa. An expert in the “old ways” of hands-on print production, these skills influence his work in the digital world to this day. His work throughout his career has been featured in international publications including Graphis, How International Design, Communication Arts, and The One Book as well as numerous design annuals and reference books.

Hometown: West Union, Iowa
Involved in Design and Marketing since 1988
Interests: Fitness, Travel, Movies