starward whisky

Brief:

Produce a set of 6 small cups presented

in a wooden box for an Australian alcoholic

beverage company to be used as a

promotional or gift product .

Cups. 2019.

Background

STARWARD WHISKY from Melbourne, Australia has a unique maturation process in gifted by the Melbourne weather. As the wine casks mature in the city’s “four seasons in a day” climate, the whisky expands and contracts more frequently than those in other more traditional whisky-making countries, enabling it to extract flavors constantly.

Unlike Scotch whisky, as the whisky matures the alcohol content goes up, not down, and evaporates any harsh alcohol at a faster rate than in more climatically stable regions. They call this “Elemental Maturation”. The elemental maturation helps the whisky to develop faster than other countries producing scotch and whisky. Traditionally this process is anywhere between 10 to 12 years, Starward’s Whisky takes 2 to 3 years. STARWARD is a young exclusively Australian whisky that challenges people’s ideas of maturity and quality.

Branding and cups

Starward’s ethos is to always be progressing and to look to the future. Their branding is described with astrological symbols and with colors of gold and black. The rich red amber of the whisky due to the elemental maturation in the wine barrels also gives a distinct color tone to the company’s image. I have been inspired to use their branding further with these whisky shotglasses.

Box in American walnut. Handbuilt. 30 x 20 x 15 CM

Box

This set of 6 comes in a wooden walnut box. The box represents the wine barrels, which in Starward mature their whisky. The box has a handle built into the lid, to aid in its opening. The target audience will be the same as Starward itself, from enthusiasts of whisky to a younger generation of appreciation for all things local and sustainable. The final results should remind you of looking towards the night sky, a metaphoric barrel containing a set of six shot glasses with a motif of outer space. Something we regard as looking into the future, the same as Starwards ethos.

Development

The shape allows the hand to grasp the whisky and hold under the outside of the fluted rim. The glaze I have chosen to further develop my six shot glasses with also has been inspired by their existing branding, following the space/astrological theme I have created a ‘milky way’ type effect something to look into after finishing the drink.

The shape that is inspired by a satellite from space has a wider rim allowing the nose to smell the whisky while drinking it.