The origins of vermouth harken back to the 18th century and its popularity as a cocktail mixer began to burgeon in the late 19th century. Given this history, and its traditional use as a medicinal elixir, many vermouth brands incorporate vintage iconography and textual elements into their labels. Especially common are arabesque botanical patterns and heavy reliance on textual descriptions and multiple fonts reminiscent of antique medicine labels. Despite the strong tradition for this type of design for vermouth packaging, Vermont Vermouth knew that a more modern approach consistent with their reliance upon local ingredients would be more appropriate for their brand of vermouth.

Vermont Vermouth sought a design partner to help them realize their vision for a vermouth label that was true to their brand. Luckily, in Vermont there are more than a few wonderful creators who recognize the importance of authenticity and locally sourced products. Rebecca Lotka was one such person who was greatly inspired by the natural surroundings of Vermont. Founder of Little Pond Digital, Rebecca conceived the design firm out of a desire to capture and share the spirit of place. Little Pond Digital’s goal is to connect people and the community of businesses that make small towns go round, drawing inspiration from the craft and knowledge of talented and creative entrepreneurs producing excellent and unique goods. Little Pond Digital, also located in Brattleboro, Vermont, was a perfect fit to help Vermont Vermouth accomplish the last piece of their company’s journey: the look.

After selecting olive or amber-tinged bottles with a sleeker and slimmer design than most traditional vermouths, Little Pond Digital got to know the brand and set to work on the label design. Given that the product itself was unique, it was obvious from the beginning that the label could not be standard. And it of course had to pay tribute to the vermouth’s creation in Vermont and of Vermont ingredients.

The first step was to determine that a modern feel was most appropriate for this potable with aspirations to introduce a new generation to the art of cocktails from the past. They opted for a sans-serif font collection in lieu of the decorative and script typefaces common to many vermouth labels. The copy on the label is minimal, including only the brand name, type of product, the appropriate size and alcohol information, and batch number.

For color palettes, Little Pond Digital and Vermont Vermouth decided again that a modern was the way to go. The background color on all the labels is off-white and many of the textual elements, including the brand name, are printed in black. Each varietal has its own color scheme consisting of one color and a darker shade of that color for contrast. The mountain iconography and product name are printed in color. For the Sweet Boreas it’s a teal blue that harkens to the juniper berries used in the concoction. For the Dry Zephry, the main color used is an olive green, perfectly indicative of its special botanical blend. And for the Apple Harvest Wine it’s an orange-red, of course.

The most important design element of the label, however, is its custom die-cut. The top of the die-cut mimics mountains, entirely befitting this Green Mountain State brand. Most of the bottom of the label follows a typical horizontal cut, but it culminates in one convex triangular shape. At the bottom of the triangle are some geometric heavy line patterns in the corresponding variety’s color, adding a bit of design flare to an otherwise minimalistic label.

Rebecca Lotka of Little Pong Digital summed up their design process for the label: “Little Pond drew inspiration from the green mountains of Vermont, loosely basing the silhouetted landforms on one of the many things that makes Vermont so special. Breaking out of the conventional outline of label design felt important, as bold attention grabs are needed to compete in a busy visual market. An earthy, bold, modern-bright color palette distinguishes one Vermont Vermouth variety from another, while still providing a cohesive shelf for brand recognition and simplicity.”

But the label, especially its complicated die pattern, couldn’t be accomplished without one more partner. Western Massachusetts-based Dion Label Printing was able to work closely with Vermont Vermouth to ensure their design aspirations could become a print reality. Located across the state line but less than an hour’s drive away, the Dion team was another company whose commitment to supporting local creators made them a well-suited fit. A Dion Label Solutions Specialist recommended a linen label stock to add a slight touch of textual appeal to the labels, and Dion’s technical team was instrumental in creating a die that would be functional while incorporating the detailed mountain pattern of the design. After some fine-tuning of elements among the Dion Label, Little Pond Digital, and the Vermont Vermouth teams, everyone was thrilled with the final product.