When a business reaches its 70th anniversary, the occasion deserves to be marked with something meaningful. It’s a moment to celebrate the company’s history, but also to recognise the people whose contribution has helped shape it.
That was the thinking behind a special commission received by Wyrd Spirits, an independent distillery based in the heart of the New Forest National Park. The brief was to create a bespoke anniversary gin that could be presented to employees around the world as a thank you for their contribution to the business.
The bottle would carry the story of the anniversary, but Wyrd understood that the way it was presented would be just as important. They approached Dayfold to create a bespoke presentation box that would bring both brands together and make receiving the gift feel like part of the celebration.
Creating more than a corporate gift
The intention was never simply to apply a corporate logo to an existing bottle.
Wyrd wanted to create a gift that felt authentic to the client while remaining true to its own approach to craftsmanship. The finished piece needed to reflect the quality, heritage and values of both businesses, creating something recipients would appreciate in the moment and want to keep afterwards.
The team at Wyrd Spirits created a custom branded London dry gin for the anniversary. Like the rest of its award winning range, Wyrd’s spirits are handcrafted in small batches at its New Forest distillery using New Forest spring water, British grain spirit and carefully selected botanicals.
With the gin and bottle design taking shape, Dayfold’s role was to develop packaging that would continue the story and give the gift an appropriate sense of occasion.
Designing the opening experience
The presentation box played an important role in shaping the recipient’s first impression. Before seeing or tasting the gin, employees would interact with the box, feel the materials and experience the moment the bottle was revealed. Dayfold created the structural CAD design for a bespoke rigid hinged box, sized specifically around the bottle. A magnetic closure gave the box a clean and satisfying opening action, while custom fitments held the bottle securely at the top and bottom. The exterior was wrapped and lined in Wibalin Natural Black 120gsm from Winter & Company. This uncoated, dyed through paper gave the box a deep black finish with a subtle tactile quality that suited the premium character of the gift. Inside, the top and bottom fitments were lined with Peregrina Majestic Real Gold 120gsm. The contrast between the understated black exterior and the reflective gold interior introduced a celebratory detail that was revealed as the box opened. This balance was important. The packaging needed to feel special without becoming excessive, allowing the quality of the materials, construction and finishing to communicate the value of the gift.Bringing both brands together
One of the most important parts of the collaboration was representing two different brands within one coherent piece of packaging. For the anniversary edition, Dayfold produced a separately applied 100 × 100mm presentation label using Sirio Color Black 140gsm. The design was printed using four colour process alongside digital premium white and silver inks. Gold foil detailing, gloss lamination and digital kiss cutting completed the label before it was carefully applied to the finished box. The anniversary identity was given a confident central position, while a smaller Wyrd Spirits detail acknowledged the collaboration behind the gift. Together, the elements allowed the client’s milestone to remain the focus while preserving the identity and craftsmanship of Wyrd. appears simple and refined when complete is the result of precise construction, specialist materials and many carefully controlled processes.From prototype to finished box
Before production began, Dayfold created a plain paper prototype so the proportions, bottle fit and opening experience could be checked.
This stage allowed the structural design to be assessed as a physical object rather than relying solely on an artwork proof or screen visual. It was particularly important for the custom fitments, which needed to hold the bottle securely while allowing it to be removed easily.
Once approved, the boxes moved through board cutting, paper preparation, wrapping, assembly and finishing at Dayfold. Much of this work involved careful hand construction to achieve clean edges, accurate alignment and a consistent finish across every box.
The accompanying production film captures some of these stages and shows the skill involved behind the finished presentation. What
Making the milestone memorable
For employees receiving the gin, the finished presentation was intended to create a sense of celebration and pride in being part of the company’s 70 year journey.
Opening the magnetic box revealed the commemorative bottle against the contrasting gold fitments, turning the unboxing into a deliberate moment rather than simply a means of accessing the product.
The rigid construction also gave the packaging a life beyond the initial gift. It was designed to be kept alongside the bottle as a reminder of the anniversary and the recipient’s place within the company’s story.
This was why the physical presentation mattered so much. It transformed the gin from a branded product into a commemorative experience.
A collaboration built around craftsmanship
The project brought together Wyrd’s experience in creating distinctive handcrafted spirits with Dayfold’s knowledge of structural packaging, materials and specialist finishing.
Both businesses contributed their expertise to a shared outcome. Wyrd created a bespoke spirit that felt authentic to the client and the occasion, while Dayfold designed and manufactured packaging that made receiving it feel equally considered.
The client was delighted with the finished result and felt the collaboration successfully reflected its brand identity and company values. They were particularly pleased with the quality of the presentation and the way the complete gift helped make the anniversary celebrations more memorable.
The result was more than a commemorative bottle. It was a carefully crafted expression of 70 years of achievement and a meaningful thank you to the people who helped make it possible.
Creating memorable branded spirits
This project also demonstrates how Wyrd can work with businesses to create bespoke branded spirits and gifting experiences shaped around a particular company, audience or occasion.
To discover more about its handcrafted spirits, New Forest distillery and bespoke experiences, visit Wyrd Spirits.
Creating a gift people remember
The strongest corporate gifts aren’t defined by branding alone. They feel relevant to the occasion, considered in their presentation and personal to the people receiving them.
This project succeeded because the gin, bottle, packaging and opening experience were developed as parts of one joined story. Every element contributed to the same message of recognition, celebration and pride.
Planning a commemorative gift, special edition product or bespoke presentation?
Speak to Dayfold about creating packaging that makes the moment as memorable as the gift inside.
