The Balvenie Story
The Balvenie
A celebration of craftsmanship — both theirs and ours.
The Balvenie has always been a whisky rooted in doing things the right way: slow, deliberate, and by hand. When they set out to tell the story of their Five Rare Crafts, we helped them turn what began as a beautifully printed coffee table book into a digital experience, a crafted space where tradition meets technology.
Design Direction | Digital Design
Design Direction | Digital Design
01
The Challenge
A story too good to stay on the coffee table
A story too good to stay on the coffee table
A story too good to stay on the coffee table
How do you translate a whisky brand built on centuries-old craftsmanship into the digital age—without losing the soul of the story?
The Balvenie wanted to create a coffee table book that honoured their “Five Rare Crafts,” celebrating the people and processes that make their whisky truly one of a kind. The book was intended for a small circle of collectors and clients, but we saw an opportunity to open that world up to a broader audience and give the brand’s philosophy of craft a new digital life.
How do you translate a whisky brand built on centuries-old craftsmanship into the digital age—without losing the soul of the story?
The Balvenie wanted to create a coffee table book that honoured their “Five Rare Crafts,” celebrating the people and processes that make their whisky truly one of a kind. The book was intended for a small circle of collectors and clients, but we saw an opportunity to open that world up to a broader audience and give the brand’s philosophy of craft a new digital life.
02
The Solution
Bring a handcrafted story from page to pixel
Bring a handcrafted story from page to pixel
Bring a handcrafted story from page to pixel
We crafted an immersive scrolling experience that mirrors the passing of knowledge from master to apprentice.
Each of the five crafts — from the homegrown barley to the cooperage, the malting floor, copper stills, and the malt master’s artistry — were brought to life through rich photography, hand-drawn illustrations, and a tactile digital flow that felt as handcrafted as the whisky itself.
We crafted an immersive scrolling experience that mirrors the passing of knowledge from master to apprentice.
Each of the five crafts — from the homegrown barley to the cooperage, the malting floor, copper stills, and the malt master’s artistry — were brought to life through rich photography, hand-drawn illustrations, and a tactile digital flow that felt as handcrafted as the whisky itself.
We crafted an immersive scrolling experience that mirrors the passing of knowledge from master to apprentice.
Each of the five crafts — from the homegrown barley to the cooperage, the malting floor, copper stills, and the malt master’s artistry — were brought to life through rich photography, hand-drawn illustrations, and a tactile digital flow that felt as handcrafted as the whisky itself.
Every detail of the experience echoed the brand’s reverence for making things the right way — slow, careful, and precise.
I worked closely with our developer to design and build the microsite in just five days — an intense sprint that demanded as much craftsmanship as the story we were telling. From art-directing photo selections to designing the site’s flow and visual language, the result was a digital love letter to Balvenie’s legacy of making.
Every detail of the experience echoed the brand’s reverence for making things the right way — slow, careful, and precise.
I worked closely with our developer to design and build the microsite in just five days — an intense sprint that demanded as much craftsmanship as the story we were telling. From art-directing photo selections to designing the site’s flow and visual language, the result was a digital love letter to Balvenie’s legacy of making.
Every detail of the experience echoed the brand’s reverence for making things the right way — slow, careful, and precise.
I worked closely with our developer to design and build the microsite in just five days — an intense sprint that demanded as much craftsmanship as the story we were telling. From art-directing photo selections to designing the site’s flow and visual language, the result was a digital love letter to Balvenie’s legacy of making.
03
The Outcome
What started as a limited-edition coffee table book became a story the world could experience. The Digital Craftbook extended Balvenie’s reach beyond the distillery walls and into the hands of whisky lovers everywhere, reinforcing its position as one of the most authentic, craft-led spirits in the world.
The site launched to acclaim across whisky and design circles, earning thousands of visits within its first few weeks and giving new audiences a deeper appreciation of The Balvenie’s process and people.
While the original data is long lost, the project remains a favourite for its purity of purpose — a reminder that sometimes, the best work comes from simply caring about the craft.
What started as a limited-edition coffee table book became a story the world could experience. The Digital Craftbook extended Balvenie’s reach beyond the distillery walls and into the hands of whisky lovers everywhere, reinforcing its position as one of the most authentic, craft-led spirits in the world.
The site launched to acclaim across whisky and design circles, earning thousands of visits within its first few weeks and giving new audiences a deeper appreciation of The Balvenie’s process and people.
While the original data is long lost, the project remains a favourite for its purity of purpose — a reminder that sometimes, the best work comes from simply caring about the craft.
Credit where it's due
Credit where it's due
Agency: Momentum Worldwide
Design Lead: John Buckell
Developer: Rich Savage
Copywriter: Ros Waud
Art Director: Kevin Windsor
Agency: Momentum Worldwide
Design Lead: John Buckell
Lead Developer: Rich Savage
Copywriter: Ros Waud
Art Director: Kevin Windsor
