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What makes a good liquor, like whiskey or rum? Experts say it’s all about the experience — taking a sip should provide both a beautiful aroma and engaging flavor. It should fill you with satisfaction and make you want more.
But what about the bottle label? What makes a good one? The right spirits label also involves a sensory experience, just not with the taste buds. It’s about matching the spirits label to the experience the consumer is about to have. It’s about making a good first impression through color, design, texture, and application. It’s about satisfying in a visual way.
Now, how do you get there? Let’s dive deeper into spirit bottle labels and what you should consider as you embark on the whiskey label creation process.
Your rum or whiskey label must align with not only the beverage itself, but the brand behind it. If you don’t have a firm brand identity (including brand colors, logo, tagline, mission/values, personality, story, etc.), then you’re not ready to create labels just yet. Nailing down your brand style, voice, and tone should be the first box you check off for your whiskey label strategy.
90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual. Visuals are processed 60,000 times faster in the brain compared to text. If you want people to spot your whiskey bottle on store shelves and remember it long-term, it’s a good idea to use imagery.
Think about what kind of imagery could accompany your particular whiskey. Whether that imagery is your brand logo or something else is totally up to you. But remember that using a mix of visuals and text is a good way to provide value and visual appeal at the same time. Show your brand and tell your whiskey’s story not just through words, but through images, too.
This is a part of spirit label strategy that many organizations overlook or sidestep. With so many rum and whiskey brands out there (and so many other bottles sitting next to yours on store shelves), you’ve got to find a way to stand out. Blending in with a dull label won’t help your bottom line, but a professionally-designed and unique rum or whiskey label will. Before they ever take a sip, the label is the first thing people will use to compare your product to competitors (before they taste the difference, of course).
Bring your rum or whiskey labels out of the box with unique papers and foils, creative and durable inks and engaging textures that your competitors aren’t using. Stand out and be noticed.
You’re spending a lot of time researching and strategizing for the best possible custom whiskey labels. Of course you want your effort to pay off. Your strategy needs to include the use of quality materials. Don’t let it go to waste with poor materials that don’t stand up well and look cheap. The types of materials used for your label, as well as the design, text, and colors, are crucial here.
High quality is visual, but it’s also about durability. Make sure your labels are tough enough to withstand condensation and moisture, temperature changes moving in and out of coolers and storage, and physical handling throughout shipping, storage, display and consumption.
Yes, we’ve got to mention Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TBB) regulations, which certainly matter for rum or whiskey labels. If outsourcing your spirit labels, always choose a label company with a deep knowledge of TBB regulations. This is one of the many benefits to working with a label company who already knows compliance — it’s one less piece of the strategy that you have to worry about.
Speaking of easing your worries, bring these strategy considerations to your label-making pros. They’ll make sure every box is checked and all of your bases are covered, including the above items. While you can spearhead your vision for the labels, the digital label experts can bring it to life. It’s a team effort that will result in an exceptional rum or whiskey experience for your customers.
Let us help you create the perfect label for your liquor bottles. Get in touch with us to talk about what Mammoth can do for you. Contact our digital label experts today for the innovative solutions that can make your products truly shine.
