What’s in a Label? – Lots…
We spent a long (read: incredibly long) time on our labels. Like our gin we wanted to get it just right. Why?
Because it’s important – that’s why. Here’s a little bit behind the process…
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A MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLE
Our label design starts with a bottle to put it on. The Norfolk Gin is our first gin so we chose a classic bottle which is not unusual for a maiden gin voyage, but our first challenge was to use the label design to create a point of difference. So, we spent a great deal of time thinking about texture and shape and what effect it has on the way you interact with the bottle, and what says about the product and our story.
TEXTURE
We chose a label stock that had a textured feel to emulate the feel of old maps and charts – similar to those that may have been used but the seafarers we celebrate in our stories. It’s a more expensive way to go, but in terms of connecting the bottle, the story and the gin -it was a natural step for us.
SHAPE
The shape of our label speaks volumes about what you can expect to find at Helmsfolk. Unwrapped from the bottle you can see our label is actually a rolling perpetual wave that flows around its circumference. The reason for this is partly to break the linear edges of bottle sides but also to encourage you to rotate the bottle itself to discover the whole label. When you hold a bottle in your hands you’ll realise its actually quite engaging. That’s why we printed on the inside too, but more of that a bit further down the page…
DIE CUT
If you look to the left and right of the label you will see 2 very distinct shapes which have been die cut from the label. They are the eastern coastlines of both Tasmania and Norfolk Island. Overlaid on one an other they symbolise how the stories of these unique island destinations are linked through the sloop Norfolk and special Norfolk gin.
HIDDEN GEMS
Inside our labels are the names of the recorded destinations and landmarks sighted or named in Norfolk by all those that sailed in her in her short, but deeply important history. It’s a bit quirky but like the stories behind the great ocean voyages and the vessels themselves, there’s so much more than we can often see on the surface, and we figured there was no better way to create a synergy with that. So, we put those names inside our label – like a message in a bottle!
Here are the names you’ll find inside our bottle. It’s quite a list. In Norfolk’s short but legendary ocean-going tenure from 1798 to 1800 her crews visited, sighted or named a surprising number of places.
Norfolk Island
Port Jackson
Kent Group
Furneaux Group
Flinders Island
Preservation Island
Van Diemen’s Land
Cape Portland
Low head
Waterhouse Island
Tamar River
Launceston
Mount Chappelle
Port Dalrymple
Circular Head
Rocky Cape
Bass Strait
Hunter Island
Albatross Island
Trefoil Island
Cape Grim
Mount Norfolk
Macquarie Harbour
Mount Meehan
Mount Heemskerk
Storm Bay
Adventure Bay
Derwent River
Norfolk Bay
Herdman’s Cove
Sullivan’s Cove
Mount Wellington
Cape Barren
Cape Three Points
Blackhead
Sugar Loaf Point
Cape Hawke
Three Brothers
Solitary Isles
Clarence River
Mount Warning
Cape Byron
Point Danger
Coochiemudlo Island
Moreton Bay
Cape Lookout
Glass House Mountains
Point Skirmish
Redcliffe
Point Lookout
Pumicestone River
Cape Moreton
Sandy Cape
Break-Sea Spit
Hervey Bay
Double Mount
Curlew Islet
Hawkesbury River
Hunter River
Pirate point
NECK LABELS
Our Neck Labels are the perfect location to place our overarching brand – watching over the bottle! Look on the back and you’ll see some coordinates – that’s the location of Norfolk Island where Norfolk began her journey – a journey that has etched its way into maritime history.
29.04° S, 167.95° E
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