• by Fern Siegel , April 9, 2025

Design is an art. And a visually enticing bottle is part of the art of the sell.

Maker’s Mark, famous for its bourbon, turned to Turner Duckworth to design branding that would distinguish its new Star Hill Farm Whisky.

"We wanted to move beyond the traditional Prohibition-era aesthetic that dominates American whisky brands. We drew inspiration from wine, luxury beauty and sustainable fashion to create a design that feels contemporary, rooted in nature, and rich with a sense of place. Our hope is that this brand sparks a deeper appreciation for the farm and land as a destination with its own unique personality,” said Jared Britton, creative director, Turner Duckworth.

The bottle design is meant to feel handmade. The label is a natural paper stock recycled from wheat fibers and Maker’s Mark label paper waste. Also, given the distiller’s commitment to regenerative agriculture, the wheat is captured in its natural form and the cork is a natural agglomerated cork with stone-like ceramic to evoke limestone.

The whisky, a balanced blend of 7- and 8-year-old whiskies, will be available in the U.S. and U.K. in mid-May and in Australia later this year. Star Hill Farm Whisky is named after the 1,100-acre farm that is home to the Maker’s Mark Distillery.

Maker’s Mark has used the same mashbill for over 70 years to create a consistent bourbon. Conversely, Star Hill Farm Whisky will evolve each year, exploring flavors that soil, wheat, water and wood impart when blended and grown regeneratively. The debut release removes corn and highlights soft red winter wheat — the distinctive grain in Maker’s Mark’s mashbill. Maker’s Mark is also scaling its sustainability — transitioning 1 million acres of conventional farmland to regenerative over the next three years.

Star Hill Farm Whisky will be the first to carry an Estate Whiskey certification — a new designation by The Estate Whiskey Alliance group, established by the University of Kentucky, to highlight the advantages of local sourcing and sustainable production in the industry.

Turner Duckworth's brand work includes crumbl, Sprite, Subway and Amazon.