Bottles that rock created for Rocker Spirits

Driven by the desire for a unique brand vision, Rocker Spirits, a micro-distillery based in Littleton, Colorado, worked with glass container manufacturer O-I to create a bottle that rocks, both literally and figuratively. Together, the teams created a one-of-a-kind design that conveys Rocker’s distinctive identity at first glance.

The design process, brought Duston Evans, co-founder of Rocker Spirits to the O-I North America headquarters in Perrysburg, Ohio. It was there that Evans was able to work with O-I’s NPD team to turn his vision into a reality. Going into the process, Evans had a clear vision for his bottle. Evans was so focused on the desire to stand out on the shelf that he said his decision to enter the spirits market hinged on his ability to get a bottle as unique as he was envisioning. “I didn’t want to be another square bottle. If I couldn’t have a bottle that rocks, I wasn’t going to get into the spirits industry. And we knocked our goal out of the park.”

At Evans’ direction, the design team drew inspiration from Americana and the vintage industrial era. The goal was for the Rocker brand to transport the consumer back to a simpler time when we made things with our hands and had pride in workmanship and craftsmanship. For Evans, glass was the best material to convey his passion for that era. By working with glass, he knew they could make a design that would stand out on the shelf and fulfill their desire for immediate brand identity and recognition.

The groundbreaking design allows the consumer to enjoy a moment of nostalgia while pouring the spirit. The bottle is a vessel for not only a new drink but a new drinking experience. The design was based on a vintage oil can from the 1930s with a tilt feature for ease of pouring. Made of super-premium flint, it conveys the high quality of the product while capturing the brand’s retro vintage industrial personality. With a rounded shape flattened on two sides, the bottle has a distinctive off-centre neck and finish, and counterbalanced weighted base that allows it to be rocked forward and back for pouring. This off-centre neck and finish adds complexity to the design and manufacturing process and requires expert technical craftsmanship to produce.

This unique bottle will be the brand packaging for Rocker’s full line of spirits – aged rum, whiskey and vodka.

The distillery had a soft opening on August 5 and a grand opening and VIP party on August 26 followed by a block party on August 27. Rocker’s barrel house is located on site, and guests can enjoy a tasting room, full bar and food provided by an onsite chef. 

27 September 2016 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor-in-chief