ARAUKARIA: A WHISKY ROOTED IN WOOD AND PLACE

Tognollo Studio has unveiled Araukaria, a Brazilian single malt whisky aged for eight years in araucaria wood and distilled in the highlands of Serra da Mantiqueira. Inspired by the region’s symbolic tree, the packaging echoes its bark, creating a tactile design that can be recognised by touch before it is read.  

In the highlands of Serra da Mantiqueira, a whisky has emerged that speaks as much of its land as of its spirit. Araukaria, a Brazilian single malt aged for eight years in araucaria wood, is the latest expression of a country steadily carving its place in the global whisky narrative. The araucaria tree, native to the region and revered as a cultural emblem, has shaped not only the maturation of the spirit but also the artistry of its presentation.  

Tognollo Studio, entrusted with the design, sought to capture the essence of the tree in every detail. The bottle glass was sculpted to mirror the rugged texture of araucaria bark, with reliefs that echo the scales of its trunk. This tactile approach ensures the package can be recognised by touch before the label is even read, a gesture that elevates the sensory experience and deepens the connection between product and provenance.  

The whisky itself reflects the influence of the araucaria wood, imparting a character that is both distinctive and rooted in place. The maturation process in casks crafted from this timber lends a profile that balances warmth and complexity, a reflection of the highland climate where cool nights and mist-laden mornings shape the rhythm of ageing. Araukaria is not simply a drink but a narrative of landscape, craftsmanship and cultural identity.  

For Brazil, where whisky-making is still a relatively young tradition compared to Scotland or Japan, Araukaria represents a bold statement. It is a whisky that does not imitate but innovates, drawing from local heritage to create something unmistakably its own. The design, with its sculptural bottle and bark-inspired reliefs, reinforces this authenticity, offering a visual and tactile reminder of the tree that stands as a sentinel across the Mantiqueira highlands.  

In a market where packaging often serves as a silent ambassador, Araukaria’s design ensures it speaks with clarity and resonance. It is a whisky that can be felt before it is seen, a bottle that tells its story through texture as much as taste. By weaving together the natural symbolism of the araucaria tree with the craft of distillation, Tognollo Studio has created more than packaging; it has created a vessel of identity.  

Araukaria stands as a testament to how whisky can embody the spirit of its land, offering a sip of Brazil’s highlands in every glass, and a touch of its forests in every bottle.