Challenge

In 2022, Mayor Rick Skinner enlisted my help to commemorate a significant milestone in Williamstown’s history. Williamstown Select 2021 Bourbon was celebrated with a VIP first pour after being locally selected and taste-tested. Distilled along the Ohio River and aged for five years in Williamstown, KY, it represented the city’s connection to their bourbon heritage.

Solution

From the first 130,000 barrels aged in Williamstown, KY, a special barrel was chosen, producing 216 limited edition bottles of Williamstown Select 2021. Each bottle was sequentially numbered and presented in a custom-designed pine wood box. As a collector’s item, the bourbon was sold to raise funds for the proposed Williamstown Amphitheater in Downtown Williamstown.

To elevate the execution of my design, I collaborated with Grainwell in Covington, KY, to laser-etch the design onto the pine wood boxes. The same design was featured on the brochure cover, creating a cohesive set. Each box included a numbered bottle of George Remus Bourbon and a brochure that highlighted the significance of the bourbon’s connection to Williamstown, KY, and the story of George Remus and his ties to the tri-state area.

Results

• All of the limited edition bottles sold out within 24 hours of release.

• The next small batch of Williamstown Select won’t be available until 2027.