The Design and Packaging Masters is one of the most unusual competitions in the spirits world because it judges bottles, not liquid. It sits within The Global Spirits Masters series from The Spirits Business and highlights how brands use design to express identity and purpose.Â
The 2025 results show a wide range of styles that include luxury decanters, contemporary artwork and bold storytelling.Â
The Scotch whisky category was especially strong this year with eight winners across Master, Gold and Silver. Each bottle offered a different angle on what great packaging can achieve. These profiles explore why they stood out.
Eden Mill The Art of St Andrews 2025
Medal: MasterÂ
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The Art of St Andrews 2025 marks a new milestone for Eden Mill as the distillery moves into its modern home on the St Andrews coastline. The whisky was distilled with Brown Crystal malt and finished in Amontillado sherry casks, which gives it notes of malt sweetness, almond and gentle spice. It is bottled at 46.5% ABV.Â
The release also forms part of a creative partnership with Scottish artist Deborah Phillips, whose artwork appears on the label. Her design captures the color and texture of the local landscape.Â
Judges at The Spirits Business described the bottle as “gorgeous, classy and elegant,” with Matt Chambers calling it “distinctive without being too complicated.”Â
Stairsneach Islay Single Malt
Medal: Gold
Stairsneach is an independent bottling from Les Producteurs RĂ©unis. The whisky comes from the Caol Ila distillery on Islay, which is known for its clean and smoky style.Â
The whisky matures for at least five years in ex-bourbon casks and is bottled at 40% ABV. It shows coastal smoke, tar, sea spray, and a faint floral edge.Â
The name Stairsneach means threshold in Gaelic. The design reflects this idea through simple graphics and an emphasis on Islay’s rugged character. The bottle earned a Gold medal for its clear identity and its ability to communicate an approachable introduction to peated whisky.
Compass Box The Travelling Circus
Medal: Gold
The Travelling Circus is one of the most imaginative releases from Compass Box. It is a travel retail exclusive that blends peated single malts from Caol Ila and Talisker with grain whisky from the closed Port Dundas distillery. The whiskies mature in sherry casks, which gives the blend dried fruit depth that balances the coastal smoke. It is bottled at 49% ABV.Â
The packaging was created with Stranger and Stranger and carries vibrant circus-themed artwork. The bottle comes in a display-style box with bold color and gold detail.Â
IPL Packaging, which produced the label and box said: “The exterior design mirrors the whisky’s grand and dynamic nature, with bottle-shaped gold foiling and embossing on the sides, swirling with a liquid texture that evokes the spirit of movement and creativity central to the brand.”
At the Design & Packaging Masters, judges called the packaging “creative and distinctive, with charismatic illustrations, energy and vibrancy.”Â
Compass Box Art and Decadence
Medal: Gold
Art and Decadence is a rich and expressive blended malt from Compass Box. The whisky brings together single malt from Balmenach that spent time in Madeira, Sauternes, and Marsala casks, along with sherry-influenced malt from Linkwood and Glen Moray. A small amount of grain whisky from the closed Port Dundas distillery adds texture. It is bottled at 49% ABV and shows notes that suggest dried fruit, honey, and dark chocolate.Â
The label was created by artist Sirin Thada and features ornate detail that reflects the indulgent style of the whisky. It also pays tribute to the Decadent Movement in the late 19th century. In this period, as Compass Box puts it, “Art was made for the sake of art; there were no ulterior motives.”Â
The attitude of the period is summed up by a quote from Oscar Wilde: “We live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities”.The design feels collectible and sits comfortably within the creative ethos of Compass Box.Â
Singleton Whisky
Medal: Gold
The Singleton earned a Gold medal for a series of premium releases that highlight the brand’s modern approach to single malt.Â
The 42 year old Gourmand Collection sits at the top of the range. It was created through long secondary maturation and a focus on dessert like flavor. The Special Release 17 year old called Into the Blue adds another angle through a mix of mezcal and sherry cask finishes.
These whiskies are presented in bold packaging with smooth bottle shapes and strong visual themes. Such packaging makes The Singleton instantly recognisable on the shelf, contributing to its growing global success. The designs reflect how the brand connects flavor with storytelling.
Chivas Regal Crystalgold
Medal: Gold
Chivas Regal Crystalgold is one of the most unusual releases in the Scotch category this year, although it actually isn’t Scotch whisky at all.Â
It is a clear spirit that begins as a blend of malt and grain whiskies. The spirit is then filtered to remove color while keeping the familiar Chivas style. It is bottled at 40% ABV and is aimed at cocktail drinkers and travelers who want a new take on Scotch.Â
The packaging earned strong praise. Judges liked the clean and crisp presentation because it reflects the clarity of the liquid. The gold stopper and the smart box add a premium touch. The judges called Crystalgold’s packaging “clean, crisp design that reflects the clear spirit inside the bottle. The gift box looks smart, as does the gold stopper, and kudos for using real cork for the stopper.”
Compass Box Secrets of Smoke
Medal: Silver
Secrets of Smoke explores the softer and more surprising side of peat. The whisky blends malts from Caol Ila, Ardmore, Bowmore, and Laphroaig. Many of the components mature in wine or sherry casks. The whisky is bottled at 52% ABV and shows notes of toasted marshmallow, orchard fruit and coastal smoke. It is a limited release of 9,792 bottles.Â
The design uses a matte black bottle and a carton with holographic foil. The color shift echoes the layers that sit inside the smoke. The look feels modern and confident.
Balmore Dru Highland Single Malt 5 Year Old
Medal: Silver
Balmore Dru is a 5-year-old Highland single malt bottled by Les Producteurs RĂ©unis. The whisky, from Teaninich Distillery, matures in ex-bourbon casks and is bottled at 40% ABV. It offers a simple and classic Highland profile with gentle sweetness and a hint of oak spice.Â
The packaging helped the whisky earn a Silver medal. The design focuses on clarity and regional cues. It uses clean labeling and a color palette that reflects the Highland landscape. The bottle feels accessible and trustworthy for drinkers who want an uncomplicated introduction to the region.
