THE finalists of the 2024 Scottish Design Awards were unveiled in time for World Whisky Day – and it has turned out to be a strong year for whisky packaging.
The awards, organised by Urban Realm in partnership with The Drum, showcase the best of Scottish design talent. This year, for the first time in the Awards’ history, all of the finalists in the hotly contested Packaging category are whisky projects.
Among the finalists are Port Glasgow-based McLaren Packaging, shortlisted in the Packaging category for a whisk(e)y project with Bushmills, where the firm was tasked with creating a range of premium and luxury packaging that was also easily recyclable.
The brief was to transfer its range of presentation boxes for Bushmills’ World Wood Series to recyclable materials, while maintaining the premium aesthetics and secure bottle housing. Challenges successfully overcome included finding a foam replacement and removing the magnet closure.
Sales & marketing director Michael McLaren said, “We are proud to be recognised in this year’s Scottish Design Awards in what is such a strong year for entries. Our team have worked incredibly hard to design innovative solutions so we’re delighted for this recognition of our achievements so far, and look forward to supporting other brands in their journey towards more sustainable packaging.”
Other finalists in the Packaging category include Freytag Anderson (in a project to establish a disruptive brand in the blended whisky market for Woven); Tangent (in a new single malt whisky project for Eden Mill); FortyTwo Studio (in a project to design a new bottling brand and bottle system for Halcyon Spirits); and APS Group (in a project to create a distinctive, premium bottle and packaging solution for Isle of Harris Distillery).
The results will be revealed at the live awards gala on June 27 in Glasgow.
