With a maritime vibe that flows as smoothly as the spirit inside, CF Napa Brand Design’s packaging for Aquatica Distilling earned Gold in the 2025 Graphis Design Awards. The design channels the essence of the sea—crisp, bold, and refreshingly modern—while nodding to the craft and care behind the liquid. Known for translating brand stories into shelf-stopping visuals, CF Napa steers Aquatica into bold creative waters with a look that’s equal parts strategy and splash.

By: The Team at CF Napa Brand Design

Aquatica Distilling came to CF Napa to develop the name, packaging, logo, and custom bottle for their premium craft American Gin inspired by California and the Pacific Ocean’s influence on agriculture. Distilled and bottled in Northern California, the Gin had notes of fresh lemon, orange, and just a touch of brininess.

The name Aquatica was developed by CF Napa to connote water, evoking the magic of the Pacific Coast.

For the custom bottle, CF Napa created a shape that was unique in the gin category, and the distinctive light aqua-blue hue of the bottle further supported the name and story. The back of the bottle was embellished with a custom deboss of California Pacific Coast ocean floor topography. When viewed through the front of the bottle, the refraction of light gives depth to the multi-level deboss. The custom closure was a replica of a boat tie-off, complete with knotted rope. The wordmark, icon, and linear topographic map lines added to the nautical, ocean-inspired theme of the package.

For 50 years, CF Napa Brand Design has set the standard in the drinks industry, focusing on alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine and spirits branding. Under the leadership of owner and creative principal David Schuemann for the past 22 years, we have developed and restaged countless brands through story, packaging, and visual ethos. CF Napa’s expertise lies in our process—from project conception to conclusion, we balance listening with leading to execute solutions rooted in strategy that connect strongly with consumers and drive sales, whether in the domestic or international marketplace.

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