GLOBAL SPIRITS DESIGN HONOURS CELEBRATE INNOVATION ACROSS BORDERS

The 2025 Beverages Winners in Spirits Dark celebrated international design excellence, awarding Gold to GRAN MAIZAL (Mexico) and Gingerbread (Slovakia). Silver went to entries from the UK, China, and Italy, while Bronze recognised Australia, the USA, and the UK. The awards highlight global innovation in spirits branding and packaging.  

The 2025 Beverages Winners in the Spirits Dark category have underscored the international breadth of creativity in drinks branding and packaging, with a line-up that reflects both heritage and contemporary flair. The awards, judged on design excellence and storytelling impact, brought together diverse entries from Mexico to Australia, each demonstrating how visual identity can elevate the consumer experience.  

At the pinnacle, GRAN MAIZAL by HUMAN (Mexico) secured Gold, its design rooted in cultural authenticity and modern craftsmanship. Alongside it, Gingerbread by Pergamen (Slovakia) also claimed Gold, a striking example of how festive nostalgia can be translated into packaging that resonates with both tradition and innovation. These winners highlight how design can capture emotion and heritage while appealing to global audiences.  

Silver medals were awarded to three distinctive projects. Breuckelen Distilling’s 77 Whiskey by Thirst (UK) impressed with its bold reinterpretation of classic whisky cues, while Nianque – Guyue Longshan Huangjiu by SHENZHEN ORACLE CREATIVE DESIGN CO., LTD (China) showcased the elegance of Chinese heritage through refined detailing. Completing the Silver trio, Amaro Seneghe – Bitter Fusion Experience by BasileADV/Vimem (Italy) demonstrated how regional authenticity can be fused with contemporary design language, creating a product that feels both rooted and forward-looking.  

Bronze recognition reflected the global spread of creativity. Strutter Whisky by Denomination (Australia) brought a modern edge to whisky branding, while Edmond’s Honor by Vault49 (USA) emphasised bold storytelling through striking visuals. From the UK, Douglas Laing’s Strathearn Single Malt Scotch Whisky by Douglas Laing & Co. earned Bronze for its balance of tradition and modernity, reinforcing the enduring appeal of Scotch whisky design.  

Together, these winners illustrate how the spirits industry continues to embrace design as a strategic tool, not merely for aesthetics but for shaping consumer perception and market positioning. Packaging has become a vital medium for storytelling, allowing brands to communicate heritage, innovation, and emotional resonance in ways that transcend borders.  

The 2025 awards also highlight the growing importance of cross-cultural creativity. Mexican and Slovak entries at the Gold level demonstrate how local narratives can achieve global recognition, while Silver and Bronze winners from China, Italy, Australia, the USA, and the UK reflect the universality of design language. This diversity underscores the role of design competitions in celebrating not only technical skill but also cultural dialogue, where each bottle becomes a canvas for identity and imagination.  

As the spirits market grows increasingly competitive, these honours serve as a reminder that design excellence is central to differentiation. Whether through heritage cues, modern reinterpretations, or bold storytelling, the winners of the Spirits Dark category exemplify how creativity can transform products into experiences, ensuring that every pour is accompanied by a narrative worth savouring.