At its plant in Alloa, Scotland, Owens-Illinois is producing the bottle for Pernod Ricard’s redesigned and relaunched Ballantine’s Finest whisky.
Owens-Illinois is making the new Ballantine’s Finest bottle in a range of eight sizes from 500ml to 2-litre, with each size retaining a familial resemblance.
The 1.5, 1.75 and 2-litre bottles all feature finger-grips and have moved away from the previous ‘handled’ versions.
The core sizes of 700ml, 750ml and 1-litre feature a finish capable of taking both open pourer and non-refillable fitments, thereby reducing the number of glass variants.
The 700ml and 750ml containers continue to be made using lightweight glass forming technology.
Designed by Air Innovation, the new glass bottle for Finest reflects Ballantine’s traditional attributes, such as “timelessness, elegance and authenticity”, while developing a more contemporary, bolder style.
It retains the characteristic rectangular shape for which Ballantine’s is famed, but its shoulders have been made more angular, resulting in a “sharper, prouder look”, and now features a chevron-shaped label.
Paul McLavin, marketing manager NW Europe for O-I, says: “This evolution of Ballantine’s packaging truly emphasises the strengths of glass.
Subtle changes to the bottle shape have been made to update the brand image to encourage fresh consumers to try Ballantine’s Finest, without alienating its loyal consumer base, who love the fact that Ballantine’s is one of the most consistent and recognisable brands in the world.
“Glass design is highly malleable; it can convey a brand proposition ranging from ultra-modern to nostalgic with an infinite range of possibilities in between.”
Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world, and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide.
In June 2013, it was announced that the Owens-Illinois glassworks in Alloa will cease to produce the bottles for Diageo’s market-leading Johnnie Walker whisky brand, once the existing contract expires in 2014.
