Cihuatan Rums – traveler’s exclusive edition

Design: Appartement 103 – Brand Design
Location: France
Project Type: Produced
Client: Licoreras Cihuatan
Product Launch Location: Global
Packaging Contents: Rum
Packaging Substrate / Materials: Glass bottle, paper

Following Appartement 103 global rebranding for Cihuatán Rum, Licoreras Cihuatán, the only rum producer in El Salvador, has awarded the boutique design studio with the naming, storytelling and design development of its first travel retail exclusive product.

Cihuatán Obsidiana is an exclusive traveler’s edition rum inspired by Mayan’s legends.

Obsidiana was sacred to all Maya, an enigmatic stone forged by the fire of godsent lightning. It was thus the ultimate gift from the Gods of Xibalba (the underworld), its opalescent beauty used in intricate embellishments and its sharp edges as supreme protection.

Obsidiana is a rum inspired by this sublime concept of beauty and strength becoming one, a woody composition with a graceful character that slowly reveals its delightful intensity.

Going deeper into its myth, the Goddess Itzpapalotl was the embodiment of obsidian, both exquisite and fierce.

She was known as the Obsidian Butterfly whose ornate wings were carved out of this precious stone. Itzpapalotl would rise from the underworld to keep travelers company and protect them under her magnificent wings which we subtly illustrated in the centre of the label through a play of camouflaged elements.

Giving depth to the story, the alligator symbolises the earth when the underworld Xibalba was represented as a two-headed feathered snake.

Through the rebranding of the core range and this new Traveler edition, Appartement 103 created a unique intertwined illustrations style that has become a powerful identity asset for the Cihuatan rums.

The unexpected use of vibrant colours contrasting with the elegance of hot foil elements on black background added depth to the mystery, elegance and desirability of this new SKU.