Milk Street Distillery
Milk Street Distillery in Branchville, NJ crafts a range of spirits, each with its own story.
Kanpeki Vodka. Kanpeki is a Japanese word that means 'perfection.' The vodka is made of polished grains of white rice, and the distillery owners wanted it to have a Japanese look. We were able to commission calligraphy from a master calligrapher, Tsuyoshi Takemori, who I was put in touch with by Ms. Kamimura of the Japan Society in New York City. I drew a cherry blossom branch and refined it in the computer. You can see the parts come together below. The bottles are silkscreened with three colors: white, black and purple.
Devil’s Bark. A voodoo look for a cinnamon and birch flavored whiskey. Label is enhanced with red foil for added spark.
Vexed Gin. A page from a witch’s grimoire was the inspiration for this complex, herbal gin. I illustrated the herbs using watercolors.
War Penny Bourbon. A smoky bourbon with a World War II label, with silver foil and spot varnish.There is a genuine 1943 steel penny embedded in the wax seal.
Black Vulture Vodka, Wooden Leg Rum, and Dam Break Rye. Each product has a fanciful identity reflected in the labels, which remain consistent in layout. Labels are enhanced with sculpted emboss, foil and spot varnish.
