High Wire Distilling Co.

Objective

Refine and expand the brand, story, and world for a distilling company

Services

Strategy
Positioning
Brand Development
Copywriting
Illustration
Print
Packaging

Composite image showing a dock scene at golden hour with people gathering near boats, surrounded by calm water and marsh grass. Inset on the left, a silhouetted hand holds a glass of amber liquid, backlit by trees and sky. Below that are scattered purple corn kernels.

Founded by Scott Blackwell and Ann Marshall, High Wire Distilling was born of our desire to explore a range of flavor that might be found in lost and forgotten grains.

Ann and Scott’s roots in farming and organic baking drive them to approach distilling with the palate and curiosity of adventurous cooks; the exuberance of enthusiastic eaters — and the devotion to regenerative practices like no-till farming and seed preservation.

Two people standing in a field of tall, golden grain on a sunny day. The woman in the foreground is smiling and facing the camera, while the man behind her stands with his hands on his hips. Trees line the background under a clear blue sky.

Illustrated label-style graphic for High Wire Distilling Company, featuring phrases like “Drink Mindfully,” “Drinking is an Agricultural Act,” and “Place, Past & Present Distilled,” with a central corn motif and reference to Charleston South Carolina.

Close-up of a person holding three ears of deep red heirloom corn with dried roots still attached, set against the backdrop of a dark, textured jacket.

In 2014, in partnership with Glenn Roberts of Anson Mills, Dr. Brian Ward from Clemson University, and Lowcountry farmer and seed saver Ted Chewning, Ann and Scott harvested enough of a heritage corn called Jimmy Red to distill two batches of the most unique bourbon they’d ever tasted. In an industry where commodity corn dominates, Jimmy Red’s flavor was a revelation — and a revival.

Ann and Scott’s story of Jimmy Red is more than captivating, it set our minds and imaginations in motion. Theirs is a mission to enhance flavor, celebrate farmers, preserve rural lands, and make drinking an agricultural act.

The identity is harmonious blend of pre-prohibition typography with contemporary refinement.

Tan baseball cap with a circular red and white patch reading

Illustration of an arm coming out of a whiskey barrel on the top and bottom of he barrel. The top arm is holding wheat and the bottom arm is holding a bottle of whisky.

A man climbs into a green John Deere tractor beside a field of tall, drying corn under a partly cloudy sky.

The identity draws inspiration from vintage seed packets and botanical guides, achieving a beautiful balance of modernity and heritage.

A High Wire Distilling Co. whiskey club card with the front having embossed initials

A patterned red bandana featuring corn and grain illustrations along with the High Wire Distilling Co. name, displayed against a backdrop of tall, golden field grasses.

Three variations of Jimmy Red Sweet Mash bourbon whiskey by High Wire Distilling Co., each labeled with vintage-style artwork featuring red corn and sealed with brown paper and red

A palette of Jimmy Red crimson, deep red, cast iron, rye yellow, and stone blue reflect the spirits’ ingredients, local history and culture, and the landscapes in which they grow.

The brand design is activated in multiple mediums — from bottle labels and packaging to hats, bags, matchbooks, and brochure.

Mustard-colored tote bag with an illustration of an arm coming out of a whiskey barrel on the top and bottom of he barrel. The top arm is holding wheat and the bottom arm is holding a bottle of whisky. Below the illustration, the text reads “Drinking is an agricultural act – High Wire Distilling Co.” The bag is held aloft in a field of green corn stalks.

Aerial view of a green tractor harvesting a golden crop field, paired with a black-and-white photo of corn and text crediting High Wire Distilling Co. for aging, bottling, and distributing since 2013 in Charleston, S.C.

A thoughtful collection of hand drawn illustrations, monograms, badges, and taglines infuse the brand with character, strategically incorporate a sense of place and purpose, and are easily adaptable across multiple mediums.

Illustration of a red corn cob partially husked in front of a black-and-white field, with stamped High Wire Distilling Co. emblems and text reading “Sowing the Seeds of Revival” and “Belleville Farm, South Carolina.”

Members of High Wire Distilling’s Whiskey Club receive a custom wood box brimming with goodness: a member card, whiskey glass, hat, wool patch, enamel pin, Anson Mill grits, pencil for tasting notes, and more.

A new, e-commerce website showcases the spirits, makes purchasing effortless, and beautifully weaves together the fresh brand design, vibrant photography and video, and the story of what’s possible when we relentlessly pursue our passion.

Credits

Photography
Peter Frank Edwards

Videography
1504 Co.

View Our Work