Attractive Packaging

Seeing some 80-100 or perhaps 200 bottles of a shelf, the buyer (not counting those who know what they want) would probably primarily first notice the bottles or packaging that stick out from the crowd. Like the Bruichladdich Laddie series, with its bright, turquoise tubes, it is very easy to spot. In comparison, the dark packaging of say Ardbeg might not be as easily spotted before up close?

I'd guess packaging is both attractiveness and recognizability. For some, practicality might count as well. Cardboard boxes are more easily disposed of than metal and plastic tubes.

Personal experience: I remember buying Amrut Fusion on an impulse. The packaging might've been influential there.

I'll admit to buying a couple bottles of Tomatin 12 back in my early whisky days based on the coolness of the black tube with the gold lions and all that jazz. I did like the whisky, but the lions were Purchase Reason #2.

I think I'm pretty immune to that kind of thing now. On the other hand, I was quite disappointed when I ordered a bottle of English Whisky Co. whisky online about a year ago and it turned out to look nothing like this:

travisheightsbevworld.com/wp-content/…

I think to someone who cares what's in the bottle the packaging is not a factor. I'd in fact find an old dusty more interesting than a flashy new Macallan....

I have bought bottles for the way they looked. I bought a miniature metal tin containing a miniature Amrut Fusion because it looked cute. But I won't drink the contents...

I agree with much of what @Fiberfar posted. Speaking honestly about my own purchases, if I'm just shopping from the shelf, not searching for any specific expression, packaging certainly influences my choice. Of course, as a whisky lover, what counts is what's in the bottle. Having said that though, if I'm looking to grab something I've never had before, and I'm not choosing based on suggestions I've heard from others, I'll most likely pick something that's appealing to the eye.

I am with Nozinan with this one. It's about what is in the bottle, versus pretty/flashy/attactive packaging. I love the bright colors with the various Arran whiskies, and the bold colors of the Glenfarclas packaging tubes. But not being a risk taker at heart, I would rather walk out of a retail vendor empty handed then spend a few dollars for some attractively packaged bottle only to be disappointed later. Some like to gamble, even very modestly, but that just isn't me. Along that same line, I have been disappointed upon sipping a well researched and highly regarded whisky too. Just goes to show that most things in life are rarely risk-free. Cheers !

I bought Loki partly due to packaging, but I already like HP's whisky. Still, the price is rather high for what it is, so packaging played a role. I have the bottle and case on display in my living room.

Most times, packaging plays little role in my choice to buy. I do not like colored bottles. I like to see the whisky inside. This said, I like boxes that cover the glass to protect the whisky from sunlight. I always feel bad throwing away pretty bottles, but I have no room in my house for them. I prefer craft oriented whisky with natural color and natural flavor. I hate E150a. It is my enemy. As for the color of whisky, I like my whisky as I have liked my girlfriend's hair: natural in color. What I have looked for in womens' hair is silkiness, sheen, and healthy ends. As for whether it is curly, blonde, brunette, or brown, I care not a whit and prefer to see the natural color. Healthy and glowing hair and healthy and glowing skin on a woman is hard to beat, provided she is in fairly decent shape physically and has not let herself go to seed. Of course, nothing can make up for a lack of intelligence, style, elegance, wit, humor, and good natured positivity. Nothing.

Same with whisky: I treasure the light color of whiskies that have not been exposed to sweet casks that housed sherry, wine, or port. I love seeing the natural color progression of older whiskies and feel cheated when younger whiskies imitate this coloring. I actually feel a little anger when I see a very dark young whisky that has been excessively colored. I won't name names here. I have $$$$$$$$ of dollars on whiskies that were very light in color.

If I didn't have Christian Science parents that visit my home occasionally, I might put the empty bottles (that are attractive) up on a special shelf that is mounted on a wall. But even though I am 48 years old, I wouldn't want to upset my parents. They are old now and I want them to feel comfortable visiting my home without any stress. Whisky to them symbolizes the degenerate and mesmeric influence of malicious animal magnetism.

The prettiest bottle in the world in the most handsome of packaging would never make up for a crappy whisky inside. Yes, you can polish a turd. How? Gold plate it first. But a turd inside is still a turd, with or without the gold plating.

The big corporations that fund distillers would do well to move in a craft oriented direction. Higher ABV's, natural color, clear labels with DATES AND YEARS on them, clearly marking the age of a whisky instead of hiding that with gimmicks, employing expert distillers that keep the old arts alive, avoiding the trends towards sweet sweet sweet or peat peat peat (smoke) and staying on the track of farmy and savory like the old Broras and Clynelishes. Nothing in my estimation can substitute for the cranky and farmy delights of old malts. I dearly miss them. As for age, I have spent a great deal of money on five and six year old scotches. But I like to know what I am buying. I resent the move away from labelling the age of a whisky. To me, it is sneaky and distasteful, even when the whisky is delicious. As an intelligent consumer, I deserve to know what has made the whisky and I like to know if it is a blend of single malt or from individual casks, as well. The more information, the better! And the more I respect the distiller. I understand that some distillers are on a learning curve and that's okay. Charge more when the whisky is up to par. Kilchoman is a great example of this strategy, although the prices are now getting a bit too big for the whisky's britches. Be fair, be reasonable, be honest, be forthright, and you will earn my respect and patronage.

Using quality bourbon barrels, like those that house Buffalo Trace, for example, will also go a long way. Good bourbon DOES help to influence the taste of the scotch that has been sitting in the casks. And for gad's sake, throw away rotten casks! Do NOT attempt to clean with too many sulfur candles and cleansers. Don't be cheap skates! Get new friggin casks already! And ship casks in winter when they won't spoil. Common sense = common cents. Don't skimp on the whisky and put lipstick on a pig!

I stumbled across this article from 2012: scotsman.com/lifestyle/food-drink/…

They point out a few important (albeit obvious points), firstly that many buyers are blind shopping. They do not know what the content of the bottle is going to taste like. Secondly, while packaging might be what entice the buyer to pick up his or her first bottle of Glen-something-or-other, but that its the taste that will draw them back to buy another.