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James Gin Label Design | Custom Bottle Labels with 3D Mockups

Premium custom bottle labels for James Gin, designed with Illustrator and visualized through 3D Blender mockups. A minimalist yet bold identity that enhances the transparent bottle and elevates the brand’s presence.
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James Gin Label Design | How Custom Bottle Labels Created a Premium Identity

When Mr. Jacks approached me for the James Gin project, his request was simple yet challenging: design a bottle label that would not only fit the brand’s modern identity but also stand out in a highly competitive spirits market.

The result needed to be clean, premium, and distinctive, while also working seamlessly on a transparent bottle. This case study explains the approach, the design process, and how custom bottle labels combined with 3D mockups elevated James Gin’s overall presentation.

🎯 The Challenge of Custom Bottle Labels

Alcohol brands often rely on rich design traditions—ornamental typography, textured finishes, and detailed illustrations. However, James Gin wanted to move in the opposite direction. The aim was minimalism: a modern, bold identity that cut through the noise while exuding confidence.

The key challenges were:

  • Designing a transparent bottle label that maintained clarity and balance.

  • Ensuring the design looked premium yet simple enough to scale across multiple editions.

  • Creating 3D mockups that allowed the client to preview the bottle realistically before production.

🎨 The Design Process

I used Adobe Illustrator for label design and Blender for creating lifelike bottle mockups. The design was guided by three principles: simplicity, boldness, and usability.

  1. Typography & Layout

    • Strong sans-serif font to emphasize the “GIN” brand name.

    • Clean hierarchy with the product edition (American Mustard) clearly visible.

    • Functional sections for essential product details: volume, alcohol percentage, edition, and year.

  2. Color Palette

    • A striking mustard yellow accent paired with monochrome type, giving the label a bold yet sophisticated appearance.

    • White space ensured the design didn’t feel cluttered, enhancing readability and premium feel.

  3. 3D Bottle Mockups

    • Modeled the bottle in Blender for accurate proportions.

    • Applied the label digitally to simulate real-world lighting, transparency, and reflections.

    • Generated multiple angles for both marketing visuals and client approval.

View similar 3D work here: James Gin 3D Bottle Model

🚀 The Outcome

The final custom bottle label design successfully achieved the client’s goals:

  • Minimalist & Premium: The bold typography and clean layout gave James Gin a recognizable and memorable identity.

  • Functional & Scalable: The label design can be easily adapted for different editions (e.g., flavors or special releases).

  • Photorealistic 3D Mockups: Provided the client with high-quality renders that reduced uncertainty before production.

The project also highlighted the value of 3D visualization in packaging design. By previewing the label in a real-world context, the client could see exactly how the product would appear on store shelves—leading to faster decision-making and more confident approvals.

🔗 Explore More Work

✅ Final Thoughts

This case study shows how custom bottle labels can redefine a brand’s identity when paired with strong design and modern visualization. For James Gin, the project delivered more than just a label—it created a scalable, premium look that positioned the brand confidently in the market.

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