Luxury and Sustainability Working Together in Craft Spirits
How Knockout built a peek-a-boo window gift box for Dark Sky Distillery that protects glass bottles while letting the brand's bold design shine.
- Client
- Dark Sky Distillery
- Industry
- Craft spirits
- Packaging Type
- Custom gift box (secondary packaging)
- Key Requirements
- Shelf standout, secure glass bottle protection, a local supply chain
- Manufacturing Region
- North America
- Outcome
- A premium gift pack entered for the 2022 FSEA Gold Leaf Awards
Dark Sky Distillery
Dark Sky Distillery is a family-operated craft distillery that has set itself apart by embracing responsible green distilling technology to minimize its carbon footprint. Their stills are some of the most energy efficient in the industry.
Dark Sky incorporates solar power to reduce grid demand and a rain capture system, and even recycles column cooling water through their concrete floor to offset winter heating needs.
Learn more about Dark Sky Distillery →
Luxury Bottles Deserve Luxury Secondary Packaging
Dark Sky embodies 'Luxury in Every Sip,' and their packaging needed to reflect that. After a painstaking design process for their bottles, the team knew their secondary packaging needed just as much attention. They needed a custom box that held true to their brand's unique image and values while standing out in a highly competitive retail landscape, all while keeping production local.
- A custom box worthy of a meticulously designed bottle
- Standout shelf presence in a crowded retail category
- Secure protection for glass bottles during shipping
- A commitment to keeping production local
Let the Bottle Shine, Protect It Completely
Knockout kept the design minimalistic with a solid color and peek-a-boo windows to let the colorful bottle designs capture attention in a busy retail environment. Bold print and edgy finishing conveyed the premium message a luxury brand demands, while a die-cut logo, H-lock bottom, and locking tuck top kept every bottle secure and tamper-resistant.
- Solid-color design with peek-a-boo windows to showcase bottles
- A die-cut logo integrated into the front flap panel
- An H-lock bottom and locking tuck top for secure transport
- An accordion-style insert to maintain bottle positioning
A Standout Gift Pack, Award-Nominated
The end result pairs rainbow-hued holographic foil with a matte black contrast and letter cut-outs, ensuring the package stands out from the crowd. Dark Sky is now ready to launch their gift pack into liquor stores, with the packaging entered for the 2022 FSEA Gold Leaf Awards.
- A standout gift pack ready for liquor store shelves
- Holographic silver foil paired with matte black contrast
- Secure, tamper-resistant packaging for glass bottles
- Entry into the 2022 FSEA Gold Leaf Awards
Common questions about this project
Why use peek-a-boo windows on spirits packaging? +
A solid-color carton with cut-out windows lets the primary bottle design show through, drawing shopper attention to the bottle itself while keeping the secondary packaging visually restrained.
What is an H-lock bottom, and why does it matter for glass bottle packaging? +
An H-lock bottom is a reinforced base structure that holds glass bottles securely in place during shipping and handling, reducing the risk of breakage.
Why add a QR code to spirits packaging? +
A QR code gives a brand flexible, updatable messaging space on the box, from cocktail recipes to brand storytelling, without needing to reprint packaging to change the message.
How does holographic foil affect production cost and shelf impact? +
Holographic foil adds a reflective, eye-catching accent that can make a product stand out on a crowded shelf, though it does add cost compared to standard ink printing.
What packaging considerations are unique to craft spirits brands? +
Craft spirits brands often need packaging that protects glass bottles during transit, showcases distinctive bottle design, and reflects a premium positioning in a competitive retail category.
