Mendocino Spirits
Quality. Integrity. Excellence.
Mendocino Spirits is a delicious mix of old world traditions and constant innovation. They use ancient casks, rare botanicals and sparkling copper stills to produce their spirits. In such a competitive market- when people choose their drink based on the label then discover something fantastic waiting inside- we wanted to ensure that their brand was as unique and inspiring as the product itself. And that it would entice new customers and old to pick their bottle off the shelf. We had been stalking Mendocino Spirits for years-- showing up to their whiskey dinners, going to tastings, becoming super fans of their work-- so we were thrilled when they asked us to do their branding.
The Seasons of Mendo
Owners Tamar Kaye and Crispin Cain came to us in the early stages of their company’s life wanting a label that would stand out from the crowd- to be so different that it couldn't be ignored.
We started with a vague notion that the brand should be Art Nouveau inspired, feminine feeling and embody the local Mendocino County, California area. This lead us to create a quartet of bottles: Bourbon, Aged Gin, Rye and Dry Gin. Each label was illustrated by hand and its subject matter carefully chosen to reflect the spirits inside.
Bright copper warmth
Inspiration for the stylescape was drawn from the established Art Nouveau direction and the colors of deep golden grains, the bright copper still and of course, the amber liquid inside the bottles. We wanted to evoke thoughts of sitting in a velvet parlor chair, sipping a glass of the warming, spicy, smooth whiskey.
"The Color Mill has really outdone themselves! Stunning is the feedback we keep hearing!"
-Tamar Kaye, Mendocino Spirits
Culmination of spirit
The logo was distilled from the essences of the stylescape, Art Nouveau illustrations, and a desire to establish Mendocino Spirits as a premium product: all while maintaining a link to old-world traditions.
Swirling grains and a distinct font choice subtly hint at the Art Nouveau style without restricting the brand to only that narrow style. The blue evokes images of blue sky above wheat fields, while the copper not only represents the grains the spirits are made of, but also the copper stills the spirits spend much of their lives in.
Typography and Palette
Alice (headings)
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
Fira Sans (body)
Aa Bb Cc Dd Ee Ff Gg Hh Ii Jj Kk Ll Mm Nn Oo Pp Qq Rr Ss Tt Uu Vv Ww Xx Yy Zz
Selling to the whole world (or close to it)
Mendocino Spirits are true artists, but until now their brand has not been as well known as some of their colleagues. The new website was designed to reposition them as a top-shelf brand, elevating their unique spirits and creating a far reaching brand that can be discovered and experienced throughout the county, country and globe.
The integration of a strong ecommerce platform allows them to sell and ship their spirits nationally. As many people view websites on their mobile devices, we designed the site across both mobile and desktop ensuring a great experience no matter where it’s viewed.
