Double Cross Vodka - Bottle Redesign

THE solution

This design initiative began with in-depth research in which we not only examined dozens of competitor bottles both on the shelf and in the office (don’t tell the boss), but visited a few of our favorite local watering holes to ask bartenders and mixologists what shape of bottles they grabbed first for a preferred pouring experience.

Filled with the insights of industry experts, we began designing a custom bottle structure in-house. We translated our ideas into 3D printed prototypes and consulted our bartenders and mixologists yet again so they could tactilely test our in-progress ideation. From these trials, three sizes of the bottle were eventually developed, all with thoughtfully crafted and bartender-tested bottle necks and shoulders that were purposefully shaped for better hand grip and a perfected pour.

Seeking to fulfill the client’s ask to reduce packaging costs, we tested a variety of materials and weights to design a customized metal cap that would reduce the price of packaging production without sacrificing the brand’s premium look and feel. CAD-designed custom stoppers in Double Cross red were also produced, along with a newly designed tamper seal that would work on a rounded bottle rather than the original, rectangular cap design.

In addition to embedding a metal Double Cross mark front and center of the bottle, the mark was molded into the glass at the bottom of the bottle as well. While the original typeface was maintained, typography evolved to stack on itself to fill more bottle space and generate greater brand presence. Many successful elements of the original design were translated into the new bottle, including a horizontally cascading Slovakian poem etched into the back of the bottle.