Alcohol labels present a fantastic marketing opportunity for alcohol brands. The key is to design an alcohol label that’s appealing to the eye and informative. But what makes a great alcohol label? In this post, we’ll cover exactly why alcohol labels are so important, how to design them, and give examples of the best alcohol labels in the category.

Why Does Design Matter for Alcohol Brands?

Superior graphic design and high-quality product packaging not only help your product stand out on store shelves, but they also elevate the perceived quality of your product. This is a phenomenon known as sensation transference. 

For example, if an alcohol label is made of thick, textured paper with gold foil, consumers will automatically assume the brand or product (or both) is superior to its competitors. This is why most premium, special reserve, and limited edition products are packaged in such a way. Sensation transference works the other way, too; if your alcohol label is too simplistic or amateurishly designed and made of low-quality materials, consumers will assume you’ve invested the same amount of effort into the product as well–and they’ll avoid buying it. 

Sensation transference is just one reason why it’s important to have great label designs for alcohol products. Packaging as a whole is another way to market your brand and it’s often the singular touchpoint companies have with their customers. 

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Elements of a Great Alcohol Label

Though there is no exact science to creating a great alcohol label, there are a number of guidelines, ideas, and requirements to use when designing your own. 

Required Elements

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) both closely regulate alcohol labeling practices, so following their guidelines is key when designing an alcohol label. Though you should reference their specific guides when creating your alcohol label, we’ve summarized the requirements below.

‍Brand or Business Name

Your alcohol brand or business name should be displayed prominently on the front “panel” of the label and should be one of the most prominent features of your label. 

‍Fanciful Name (Optional)

The fanciful name is the name of the product itself. Beer and seltzer companies primarily utilize fanciful names to indicate beverage flavors or product lines. Consider the Dragon’s Milk product line from New Holland Brewing Co. as an example of a fanciful name.

‍Class or Type Designation

Indicate what type of alcohol your product is. Is it a bourbon barrel-aged stout? Is it a merlot or a cabernet sauvignon? Is it a single-malt whisky?

‍Net Contents

Showcase the net contents on the front panel of your alcohol label in milliliters (ML). This can typically be placed near the bottom of the label and often in conjunction with the appearance of the alcohol content. Example: 500 ML.

‍Alcohol Content

Indicate the alcohol content of your beverage in percentage by volume. This should be displayed on the front panel in conjunction with the net contents.  Example: 5% ABV.

‍Government Warning

All alcoholic beverages must include this federal warning as part of the label. The words “government warning” should be capitalized and in all bold type. The rest must appear in a continuous paragraph. You can place this warning on the back side of your alcohol label.

‍GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems. 

‍Manufacturer’s Name and Address

Indicate where the product was made and include contact information if possible. This must be included whether you manufactured and bottled the product yourself or relied on a co-packer. You can display this information on the back or side panel of your alcohol label.

‍Nutrition Facts and Ingredients List

This is only required for sugar-based alcoholic beverages such as seltzers. The nutrition facts panel and ingredients list should appear on the back or side panel of your alcohol label. 

Creative Elements

Apart from the required elements, here are other features you can include on an alcohol label. These elements add detail and interest to your labels that inspire consumers to grab them off the shelf.

‍Color

Color can go a long way in creating a great alcohol label. You can use color to showcase the type of alcohol, such as deep reds and purples for merlot or cabernet sauvignon. You can also use your primary and secondary brand colors to help boost brand awareness. 

‍Graphics

While simple text-only labels often look clean and sharp, high-quality graphics can elevate any alcohol label. Graphics can be anything from your logo to original artwork commissioned exclusively for your product.

‍Texture

The texture and feel of an alcohol label can be just as important as its appearance. Satiny labels pair well with smooth whiskies and full-bodied merlots, while textured paper labels reinforce the artisanal tone of a farmhouse ale.

‍Interactivity

Incorporating an interactive element into your alcohol label can create a memorable experience. Interactivity can be anything from a QR code leading customers to your Instagram page to augmented reality (AR) incorporated into the label itself. 

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12 Best Alcohol Label Designs

Here are some of our favorite alcohol label designs. Use these for inspiration when designing your alcohol label.

1. 19 Crimes Wine

19 Crimes Wine has masterfully created an interactive narrative with its wine labels and packaging. Inspired by the nineteen crimes British citizens could commit that were punishable by transportation to Australia, 19 Crimes Wine has made its labels a historical experience. Nearly every bottle depicts photographs of real people who committed one of the nineteen crimes and even includes AR compatibility for further interactivity.

2. 21st Amendment Brewery

21st Amendment Brewery is another alcohol brand with its roots steeped in history. This brewery was inspired by the amendment that repealed prohibition in the 1930s and channels that inspiration into creating patriotic beer can designs. Bright colors and original artwork characterize 21st Amendment Brewery’s beer cans.

3. Bespoken Spirits

Bespoken Spirits shows us that simple alcohol label designs can be highly sophisticated. Using the same format for each of its spirit labels, this alcohol brand utilizes rich colors to differentiate each of their products. With such gorgeous alcohol labels, these spirits would elevate the look of any alcohol shelf.

4. Murphy-Goode

California winemakers Murphy-Goode have created a line of sophisticated wines that are accessible to everyone and easily shareable among friends. Their vintage apothecary style wine labels give their wines a rustic, refined look that is perfectly understated and inviting.

5. [yellow tail]

It’s no secret that we’re big fans of [yellow tail] Wines. Their two-piece wine labels are as fun and whimsical as their brand. With their bright colors and scalloped edges, [yellow tail] wine labels invite you to not take life too seriously and relax for a while. Of course, each wine label features their signature kangaroo logo, a nod to their Australian roots.

6. Pabst Blue Ribbon

For the past ten years, Pabst Blue Ribbon has held a beer can design contest to showcase the most talented emerging artists from across the country–and now the world. Pabst challenges the artists to stick to a specific two-color palette so as to remain consistent with their branding. It’s a genius move of Pabst to get a wide audience engaged and create a fun community event.

7. Gnarly Barley

Based out of Louisiana, Gnarly Barley likes to embrace a wide variety of brewing techniques to create truly excellent beers. Their beer can art is just as creative and eclectic as their brews. Gnarly Barley likes to mix unique art styles, leaning toward pop art, retro, and psychedelic can design to showcase their fun-loving culture.

8. Flybird Bottled Margaritas

Flybird embraces the beautiful, vibrant Mexican culture where their premium bottled cocktails are made, incorporating that inspiration into their label designs. The bright colors and intricate designs hint at the delicious, complex flavors of their line of bottled margaritas. Both a treat to look at and a treat to drink.

9. Michael David - Freakshow

Michael David Winery creates some of the most interesting and bold wines available, and their labels showcase that perfectly. One of our favorite lines from Michael David is Freakshow. These wine label designs recall bygone days when the traveling circus was a strange yet alluring form of magic. 

10. Bozal

Mezcal is a complex spirit that helps craft some of the most impressive cocktails. Bozal is dedicated to crafting the most delicious mezcal made from wild Mexican agave and using traditional distilling techniques. Their commitment to rusticity is translated into their bottle design as well. The opaque earthenware bottle and paper label showcase their commitment to tradition and the land where their mezcal is made.

11. Westwood Wine

Winemaking is an ancient tradition requiring patience and dedication to the land. Westwood Wine demonstrates their commitment to this process by incorporating a topographical map of their Sonoma Valley vineyard into their wine bottle labels. The result is an eye-catching and sophisticated tribute to their vineyards and farms.

12. Westward Whiskey

Based out of Oregon, Westward Whiskey has crafted an impressive portfolio of single-malt whiskeys inspired by the American northwest. Recalling the days of pioneers and westward expansion, Westwood Whiskey bottles whisk you back in time with their unique shape and label design. 

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Cheers to Great Design

By putting thought and effort into your alcohol labels, you can increase brand awareness, connect with customers, and reach more audiences. We hope this post has given you inspiration and motivation to create stunning alcohol label designs for your brand.

‍Getting ready to take your beer, wine, or spirit to market? Learn more about how Grappos product locator can help new customers find and buy your beverages.

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