Ardray

Created by blenders at Beam Suntory, ARDRAY® is a new blended Scotch which seeks to drive a reappraisal of the category. As a whisky of exquisite balance, Ardray combines the bold characteristics and heritage of Scotch whiskies with the precise craftsmanship of Japanese blending.

Built on the premise that blended whisky is an art form that deserves both respect and reappraisal, Beam Suntory approached design agency Here to create a new brand, positioning, visual identity, packaging and tone of voice to do justice to the new blend.

Wild Precision was the creative strategy behind Here’s work which, like the liquid, sought to balance the best of Japanese and Scottish design traditions. The result is an identity and bottle that balances the wild and precise, referencing the beautifully rugged landscape of Scotland and the meticulous attention to detail of the Japanese arts.

The bottle is richly textured with an organic rippling pattern, inspired by the Scottish Highlands and the two fundamental ingredients in Scotch malt whisky: the free-flowing water of streams and rivers, and the fields of barley, gently blowing in the wind. By contrast the label on every bottle is a precise triangle — to strike the right balance between clarity and roundness. It points to the future, as Ardray seeks to advance the traditions of blending within Scotch whisky,

The Ardray wordmark slices vertically through the bottle. A bold nod to the craft of Japanese typography. The serif typeface speaks to the rich history of Japan and is carefully balanced with other typography on the pack. Inspired by a sketch found in Shinjiro’s sketch book, Here have also designed an icon that balances the two cultures across the entire brand world – acting as a harmonious stamp.

To capture the spirit of Ardray Here worked with artist Lia Melia to create an abstract artwork that references the wild terroir of Scotland. The warm tones not only evoke the dramatic sunlit colours of the heathland but also cue the inherent warmth and flavour of the liquid. The artwork is applied to the exterior packaging and incorporated across digital collateral.

Here have carefully balanced each aspect of the brand and the bottle’s packaging, never allowing one aspect to outweigh the other. Rather, a crafted combination of elements and cultures that create a balanced whole.

Curator’s Insight: We appreciate the attention to detail and the craftsmanship that went into creating Ardray’s visual identity. The bottle design is especially striking, as it features a textured surface that evokes the natural elements of water and barley, contrasted with a sharp triangular label that cuts through the bottle with a bold typographic logo. The logo itself is a clever fusion of Japanese and Scottish influences, as it uses a serif typeface that references both cultures and an icon that combines their flags.

The packaging also incorporates an abstract artwork by Lia Melia, inspired by the Scottish landscape and the warmth of the whisky. The artwork adds a touch of color and emotion to the otherwise minimalist design, creating a sense of harmony and contrast. The artwork is also used across digital collateral, creating a consistent brand image.