Which came first, the gin bottle or the motorbike component? That’s a question that arises with this start-up product. At first glance it is not clear how the component got into the bottle or whether the bottle was created around the component. Let alone whether you can even drink it with a clear conscience.
Let’s start at the beginning – with the gin/component paradox, or to put it more technically – with product development.
Ehinger Kraftrad wanted to produce a gin bottle that contains an original component of a historic Harley Davidson motorbike. Of course, there were a few special requests – an individual cap, a small pedestal, labels, wrapping paper, an embossed seal, all in three varieties. These things are small fry compared to a good gin. Of course, product development is never as easy as putting gin down the hatch.
Glass combined with heavy metal is always a tricky business as it breaks quickly. Metal rusts? That’s a good point too as it’s not food safe. But like a good bartender, we have a whole range of techniques at our disposal that produced great results in the end: glass grinding, sandblasting, chrome plating, galvanising, tinning, soldering, welding, hot foil stamping, screen printing, blind embossing, offset printing and digital printing.
Not only did we succeed in bottling the gin in a food-safe manner, but also in creating the design to go around it. From printable, non-tearing yet wrappable paper to large hot foil stamping, and all this in a small print run. Looking back, we don’t know how we managed the most important part of this production – putting the motorbike component into the glass bottle within seven days. It’s a bit like a good party – you can’t remember the best parts afterwards.
