IWSC Design Awards 2025: Celebrating Innovation in Drinks Design

The IWSC Design Awards recognise the importance of design in the drinks industry. In today’s crowded marketplace, packaging and presentation are critical tools for differentiating brand identity and connecting with consumers.

This August, our panel of judges gathered to review an impressive selection of entries spanning wine, spirits, and alternative drinks. Assessing creativity, personality, and innovation, they considered how each design translated into its final execution.

We are proud to announce the winners of the 2025 IWSC Design Awards across seven categories, with a handful of highly commended entries also recognised.

Redesign and Rebrand Design

Winner: The Secret Garden Wild Gin

This year’s Redesign and Rebrand award goes to The Secret Garden Wild Gin, which underwent a striking transformation. The brand shifted from colourful, illustrative packaging to a refined, polished, and tactile design. The new look includes a wooden cork inspired by a dibber used by the brand’s gardener, and symbols such as the bee and robin, highlighting The Secret Garden’s connection to nature and commitment to sustainability.

Judge Maria Blackstone praised the “bravery of the rebrand,” noting the significant improvement in presentation. Fellow judge Ivan Dixon added: “The overall winner was a clear and excellent example of a jaw-dropping upgrade which still stays true to the brand’s core values.”

The bottle and stopper were singled out for their beauty and potential second life, with judges noting that consumers may be encouraged to reuse the packaging beyond its original purpose.

Limited Edition Design

Winner: Cape Huay Single Malt Whisky
Highly Commended: Nature Series Cuvée 2018 Vintage, Artelium x Vagabond

The Limited Edition category inspired lively debate. The winner, Cape Huay Single Malt Whisky from Tasmania, stood out for its bold yet restrained design. The packaging, which features tactile and eco-conscious elements such as a stopper made from Dolerite-like stone (Tasmania has the world’s largest surface exposure of Dolerite), was commended for avoiding unnecessary complexity while confidently evoking a sense of place.

The concept behind this design was to appeal to global connoisseurs, particularly those in China and Australia, with a desirable, natural, and contemporary aesthetic that reflects its Tasmanian origin. For example, the typography was stacked vertically to mirror the island’s tall Dolerite cliffs, and the gift box was made from 100% recycled pulp.

The Highly Commended award went to Nature Series Cuvée 2018 Vintage, Artelium x Vagabond. Inspired by nature and anchored in commissioned artwork, the design impressed judges with its creative use of colour and text. James Fleming highlighted the execution of the collaboration, noting the intelligent use of visual elements to enhance the wine’s presentation.

Contemporary Design

Winner: The Leith Export Table Whisky, Muckle Brig
Highly Commended: Strutter Peanut, Honey and Orange Smooth American Whisky

The Contemporary category was one of the most competitive of 2025. Judge Sarah Miller described it as “the most challenging category to judge, with very high standards and lots of variety.”

After much deliberation, The Leith Export Table Whisky was awarded the top prize. Its bold adoption of an alternative bottle format brought a refreshing interpretation to a traditional drinks category. Ivan Dixon noted the balance between contemporary branding and a packaging style that remained understated and elegant.

Entrant Muckle Brig explained that Table Whisky is modelled on the French concept of table wine, with the aim of encouraging sharing and communicating approachability. The inspiration behind their wine bottle came from old The Leith Glass, an 18th-century company located close to their distillery, and from Leith’s history as Scotland’s gateway for the wine trade in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Highly Commended recognition went to Strutter Peanut, Honey and Orange Smooth American Whisky. Maria Blackstone called it “fun, playful, and instantly engaging,” praising the design’s clever nods to its flavour profile and its tactile details, such as a monkey-nut-textured cap and peanut-shaped label.

Traditional Design

Winner: Berry Bros. No.3 Gin

The Traditional category produced fewer entries than others, leading to reflection among judges. Ivan Dixon suggested that traditionally styled products may hesitate to enter, given the industry’s current emphasis on innovation.

Nonetheless, Berry Bros. No.3 Gin emerged as the clear winner. With its classic execution and confident presentation, it was described by James Fleming as “a really great example of traditional – it’s got everything.”

Entrant Berry Bros. & Rudd explained that the hexagonal bottle shape is symbolic: each corner represents one of the botanicals used, while each side represents gin’s three defining flavours, Juniper, Citrus, and Spice. The key set into the bottle is a replica of the key for The Parlour at Berry Bros. & Rudd, the room where the concept for this gin was first envisaged.

Gift Packaging Design

Winner: Dram5 Single Malt Whisky Blind Box

The Gift Packaging award went to Dram5 Single Malt Whisky Blind Box, a product that stood apart from standard gift boxes for its creativity and interactivity. The judges highlighted its appeal as both a gift and a party game, with Sarah Miller calling it “playful and fun.”

The design impressed with its contemporary aesthetic, effective use of colour, and the additional educational elements incorporated. Ivan Dixon remarked: “The whisky tasting set was my personal favourite, combining innovation, imagination, and flawless execution.”

Dram5 explained that the box was designed to enhance the experience of tasting the five blind whiskies housed within. The bottles contain whiskies chosen from a selection of 25 distilleries, which are all ultra-rare, rare, or premium. The box also includes a brochure, detailed tasting and food pairing notes, and an interactive tasting wheel.

Luxury Design

Winner: One Cask at a Time – 33 Year Old Aultmore Single Cask

In the Luxury category, One Cask at a Time 33 Year Old Aultmore Single Cask was the undisputed winner. Judges praised its elegant presentation in a high-quality box designed for repurposing.

The award sparked wider reflection on what constitutes luxury in today’s market. The panel agreed that luxury need not be excessive or wasteful and praised designs that incorporated eco-conscious considerations. As Sarah Miller noted: “Eco-friendly and sustainability credentials are becoming increasingly important, particularly in gift and luxury categories. The most impressive products were those that avoided unnecessary waste while maintaining elevated design.”

One Cask at a Time is a collection of independent single casks of Single Malt Whisky. The winning design is a handcrafted solid oak luxury gift box, with a copper band representing the oak casks and copper stills used to make the whisky. An NFC bottle passport is a nod to the future and contains information about the cask and whisky.

Eco-Friendly Design

Winner: Guerrilla Chicken Spirits Tarian Lemon Yuzu and Turmeric Vodka
Highly Commended: Beeble Alumni Gift Set

The Eco-Friendly award was hotly contested. This year’s winner, Guerrilla Chicken Spirits Tarian Lemon Yuzu and Turmeric Vodka, was recognised for its bold presentation and foresight in long-term usability through refills or repurposing. The bottle is made from insulated stainless steel, ensuring it can be used for both hot and cold drinks, as well as with Guerrilla Chicken’s refill pouches.

The Highly Commended award went to the Beeble Alumni Gift Set, noted for its innovative use of aluminium miniatures. Ivan Dixon remarked: “I expect this will be a movement to watch.” The judges agreed that eco-conscious packaging is rapidly growing in importance, both environmentally and commercially.

Judges’ Reflections

Reflecting on this year’s entries, Maria Blackstone encouraged future participants: “If you think you have a quality design you are proud of, I encourage you to enter because you have to be in it to win it!”

Sarah Miller highlighted the diversity of designs: “It’s always a pleasure to see such a wide range of packaging solutions from across the world. I particularly enjoyed the more unusual, playful innovations, even where they didn’t win.”

The panel also observed a surprisingly low number of wine entries. Miller commented: “For the third year running, we noted the lack of wine submissions, despite the revolution in wine labelling over the past decade.”

This year’s judging panel comprised Maria Blackstone, Ivan Dixon, James Fleming, and Sarah Miller.

For the full results, visit www.iwsc.net.