Best Whisky Packaging Ever

[martin grant]

Already we have a topic discussing the worst examples of packaging in the whisky industry, but what about the ones we like?
Personally I really like the Glenrothes packaging. I would post a picture, but that sounds really tricky, so haven't. The cardboard packaging they have around their bottles is really so naff it's cool.
I also like the new presentation box the 12 year old Glenlivet comes in. Whilst being far from my favourite dram, the box looks just great, and appears much more expensive than it really is. I call it the 'porno finish' just because the top third of the box is complete with suede effect. I could just stand and rub it for hours!

Apologies for any innuendo

[les taylor]

Martin just for starters the Bruichladdich tins are pretty good. How about Lord of the Isles.

[vitara7]

i like the presentation the balblair 33yo and 38yo's came in, but the first edition 33yo with the mini and that was really nice

[vitara7]

o, and i also like the benromach 1949 copper tin presentation and the glenmorangie 1977 ltd edition copper tin presentation

[kildalton]

I also like a lot the packaging of Bowmore 40.

[Deactivated Member]

I think good packaging is harder to judge. In theory, you could wrap a bottle of whisky in an Edvard Munch original and call it packaging. The question is where to draw the line. Personally, I would draw it at a bottle, label, tube or cardboard box. Once you get into the realms of wooden boxes, glass cases, display stands and start giving away other little gifts - decanters, maps, certificates and the like - I think you are talking about something more than just the basic presentation of whisky.

So, within my own self imposed rules, I think the following brands are outstanding:

An Cnoc
Bruichladdich
Bunnahabhain old style - especially the limited bottlings
Glen Glassaugh
Glenrothes
Glenury Royal
Highland Park old style
Isle of Jura
Ledaig
Littlemill dumpy bottles

[Deactivated Member]

Call me old-fashioned, but I think the wooden boxes of the DL Platinum series looks very stylish and nice.

Similarly the Ben Nevis older single cask bottlings came in a lovely wooden box.

[Lawrence]

I've always liked the simplicity of the Laphroaig 10 tube and green glass bottle with white label and black writing. I hope they never change either, if you look at the design since the 1980's it's changed very little.

[peergynt323]

I second that Lawrence. Laphroaig's bottle literally looks like an old medicine bottle.

I also like the Lagavulin and Ardbeg packaging. Balvenie's packaging is nice.

Douglas Laing premier barrel looks nice too. And I like the new Bowmore and Highland Park looks.

[titus]

Love the old MACALLAN replicas. Stumpy bottles with dark smokey green chipped airbubbled, uneven guage (handmade) glass. Not to mention the brilliant labelling....Just brilliant.

[Deactivated Member]

I think good packaging is harder to judge. In theory, you could wrap a bottle of whisky in an Edvard Munch original and call it packaging.

Then you'd have the dreariest packaging....

[Muskrat Portage]

This is my personal favorite whisky packaging. Now, granted, the carton separates just above the middle, so you have to hold it fairly low.

The packaging looks rich and full of promise, when you open it, the heft of the bottle is wonderful as is the etching on the glass, which is very tastefully done. The mouth of the bottle is wide and the cork is topped with wood. It pours out wonderfully easily and the entire design of bottle and carton is exceptionally well thought out.
Here's the image url:

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/showim ... e=EDRADOUR Cask Strength Decanter 1993

Muskrat

[les taylor]

This is my personal favorite whisky packaging. Now, granted, the carton separates just above the middle, so you have to hold it fairly low.

The packaging looks rich and full of promise, when you open it, the heft of the bottle is wonderful as is the etching on the glass, which is very tastefully done. The mouth of the bottle is wide and the cork is topped with wood. It pours out wonderfully easily and the entire design of bottle and carton is exceptionally well thought out.
Here's the image url:

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/showim ... e=EDRADOUR Cask Strength Decanter 1993

Muskrat

MP I have a bottle of that, it is a thing of bueaty. The etching on the glass makes the decanter look very classy.


I also like the new shape Highland Park bottle being short and oval.

[Mr Fjeld]

The Edradour bottle looks nice MP, and I agree with Les that the new HP bottles also look the part. The LOTI looks like something dug out of an italian grave chamber. I think Dante sleeps in one like this - and it's not his fault. I also a fan of the Laphroaig bottles.

[Aidan]

I like the Midleton 1973, even though it's way over the top. Here's the bottle without the fancy box etc.

[les taylor]

Aidan that does look classy, understated but distinguished.

[Aidan]

Les, if you saw the box, you probably woundn't say it was understated!

I'll try to find a picture.

[Ardbeg311]

If a limit myself to the standard distillery bottlings,

I like Ardbeg because the dark green bottle and the (celtic?) "A" projects an image of a whisky that is solid and stands up to the test of time.

Lagavulin has some wonderfully thick boxes and a beautiful brown bottle that says to me this is a serious bottle of whisky. I would accept, however, the criticism that I am being influenced by the contents of the bottle here.

I do like the Macallan bottle and Balvenie as the both convey a sense of elegance.

I confess, Martin Grant, that I would personally vote Glenrothes to be the worst in presentation (although the new HP presentation is climbing fast on the worst list). IMO it conveys with its cheap looking brown cardboard that this whisky shouldn't be taken to seriously and it is not something you might actually want to prize or collect.

Laphroaig is wonderfully plain and suggests that the company puts more effort into the product than the presentation. But one wouldn't know this unless they taste it first. I am willing to bet that Laphroaig has lost some potential buyers because of its presentation. The tubes are great but why didn't the 30yo they sent to America come with at least a tube? I just cannot buy the reason given to me a couple of years ago that it was because such an expensive bottle would largely be bought by hotels and so a container was unnecessary. The Duty Free shop's wooden boxes of the 30yo are nice, even if the green coloring looks rather diluted and cheap.


In the end, I find myself struggling to separate content from presentation!

[martin grant]

Aidan, the Middleton 1973 bottle looks fantastic. I found a picture of the presentation box here on The Whisky Exchange site. It certainly looks like a premium product.

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/viewproduct.aspx?category=32&product=2895

Ardbeg311, I do agree that the packaging of Glenrothes does look cheap, but it's just so unusual that I like it. The shape of the bottle and the cardboard edging really make it stand out on the shelf. It would be interesting to give these topics another few days and then see which bottles make both the best packaging and worst packaging lists.

[Aidan]

[quote="martin grant"]Aidan, the Middleton 1973 bottle looks fantastic. I found a picture of the presentation box here on The Whisky Exchange site. It certainly looks like a premium product.

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/viewproduct.aspx?category=32&product=2895

[quote]

Martin, it is nice alright. I think it looks classy. I actually thought it was in the box with the glasses, but that was the Midleton 1984, pictured below. I think this is nice packaging too, if a bit over the top.

[les taylor]

Aidan that is a thing of bueaty after seeing the price at Whisky Exchange. I can see why. When will you open the bottle?

[Aidan]

I'd like to open the bottle today, but the people in the shop who own it might have me arrested. I wish I owned one, but it's way overpriced. A 20 yr old whiskey for that price? Madness.

[les taylor]

I'd like to open the bottle today, but the people in the shop who own it might have me arrested. I wish I owned one, but it's way overpriced. A 20 yr old whiskey for that price? Madness.

Aidan forgive me I thought it was yours.

[Aidan]

I'd like to open the bottle today, but the people in the shop who own it might have me arrested. I wish I owned one, but it's way overpriced. A 20 yr old whiskey for that price? Madness.

Aidan forgive me I thought it was yours.

You're forgiven, needless to say. I wish it was mine.

[dcb]

one of my favorites that I happen to have taken a pic of is the HP 18 in the old box. I love the island pictures and bottle shape, the story written on the box, etc..:

[Deactivated Member]

I like Ardbeg because the dark green bottle and the (celtic?) "A" projects an image of a whisky that is solid and stands up to the test of time.

I believe that "A" is adapted from one in the Book of Kells.

I hear what you say about the Glenrothes packaging, but it works for me--it's supposed to look like a shipping crate, I guess. Hard to say if it's really functional, or just looks functional. The earliest Glenrothes I bought came in tubes.

I need to find some non-ashtray use for the metal disk at the bottom of the "crate"--I hate to throw them away!

[Ganga]

I suggest that MikeyMad has some wonderful pictures for presentations. Look at the Mortlachs, the Ardbeg Provenance, Macallan 1946.

Ok, I'm sure we can encourage him to post some pics for eveyone to give a great big .

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Yes the Midleton special releases are lovely looking bottles but the price does not justify them

Eventhough I'm not mad on the Whisky I like the Balvenie OB's

Old Style rustic works for me

[r900p]

New Dalmore 1973 and 40 year old packaging is amazing, the stags heads make me want them.

New Jura 40 aint all that bad either.

Rob

[vitara7]

nice but over priced.... look at the dalmore 73, almost idential to the 30yo version of it they done 3 years ago but not almost 4 times the price....

[r900p]

Yeah i agree on the price there. Just think what you could get for the same money.

[Dubois]

Glenrothes...simply briliant!

[jazz lover]

Auchentoshan 32 1973 oloroso-sherry
Google Forbes Magazine for photo

[irishwhiskeychaser]

Glenrothes...simply briliant!

yes the best on the market for me too ... as there is nothing else really like it.

Nice bottle shape simple label and information is concise and clear.

Simplicity is the best ....


However.....

[irishwhiskeychaser]

.... if you are looking for the Harrods look in packaging. Then I fear you cannot get any better than ......


Ardbeg 1974 Double Barrel