Hellstrøm Sommer, Olssøn Barbieri

Hellstrøm Sommer

Hellstrøm Sommer is an un-aged Aquavit distilled from endemic Norwegian herbs and seaweed. The product is part of Michelin Star Chef Eyvind Hellstrøm's range of Norwegian spirits and the goal was to create transmit a contemporary look and to reflect the non-traditional ingredients while also embracing the magic feel of the ephemeral Norwegian summer.

Year
2017
Client
Moestue Grape Selections
Goal
Celebrating the magic of the Norwegian Summer
Deliverables
Design strategy, Packaging, Art Direction, Illustration, Storytelling

Industries
Beverage
Materials
Glass, Paper, Beech wood, Organic ink
Techniques
Spraycoating, Silkscreening, Hot foiling
Collaborators
Bendik Kaltenborn, Illustration
Elin Eike Worren, Photo
Tim Cooper, 3D modeling

Awards
2020, DOGA Merket
2019, German Design Award Nomination
2018, European Design Awards Gold
2018, Visuelt Diploma
2018, The Dieline Awards 1st Place
2018, Visuelt Gold

The visual narrative takes inspiration from the pagan myths and connected to the Norwegian midsummer night of the 24th of June better known as Sanktans. Midsummer night is marked with its own symbol on the wooden agricultural calendar called Primstav.

Midsummer is the longest night of the year and thought to be one of the most powerful; loaded with folk tales of witches and trolls, legends and traditions. It was believed that medicinal herbs and flowers had their strongest power if collected this night.

The emerald green glass contributes to a feeling of magic and “potion”. The bottle is used as a canvas to portray some of the traditions and rituals belonging to Midsummer night including herbs and flowers used in the distillation. The illustration is a fantasy Norwegian landscape with mountains hills and water (also this believed to hold magical powers on Midsummer). Looking closely the illustration depicts seaweed, flowers, herbs, a caterpillar and a butterfly, symbols of rebirth and nature’s magical awakening. Also a large bonfire loosely inspired by traditional Norwegian landscape paintings.

The Midsummer Eve

Midsummer eve, also called Jonsok, is a powerful night. It celebrates the peak of summer, the power and strength of the fire and the sun, fertility, growth and love. It follows the years longest day, and it's the shortest night. The myths say that the water had special power, and drops gathered this night could heal. If a person rolled around naked in the dew, he or she would be sure to feel better.

The bonfire is the main symbol of Midsummer in Norway. To burn a bonfire on Midsummer’s Eve was a practice that would protect from evil and give strenght and life to people. People will gather around it to dance and to gain power and strenght. The fire was normally lit right after sunset to make sure that the darkness would not take over.

Most plants are in full blossom on Midsummer. It was also tradition to collect medical herbs and flowers, preferably around midnight when they had the strongest power. For special medical herbs one should collect them naked while rolling around in the dew.