2026 | Professional

MUSE Design Awards Platinum Winner

WhistlePig Whiskey The Boss Hog XII, Feather & Flame

Entrant

Grounded World

Category

Packaging Design - Sustainable

Client's Name

WhistlePig Whiskey

Country / Region

United States

About The Entry

The Boss Hog XII: Feather & Flame

When two gods can’t agree over pulque and cacao, chaos — and great whiskey — ensues.

The Boss Hog XII: Feather & Flame is WhistlePig Whiskey’s latest limited-edition rye, a riot of craftsmanship, myth, and mischief, wrapped in a package that tells the story better than words ever could. Created in Vermont by a distillery known for breaking the rules, Feather & Flame challenges everything you expect from premium American rye — starting with the package.

This release is built around an original Aztec-inspired myth, told through a custom-designed codex that unfolds across box, bottle, and label. Rather than simply holding a bottle, the package is the story. Every turn reveals another chapter, inviting discovery at each interaction.

At the center sits the bottle, topped with a handcrafted pewter topper depicting the mythical feathered pig at the moment of ascension — part closure, part sculpture, entirely display-worthy.

Collectors will encounter twelve distinct boxes and bottle labels, each highlighting a different section of the codex. No two bottles tell the story the same way, encouraging exploration and collection. Peek at the back of the label through an empty bottle, and the tale comes full circle: the reverse reveals a final celestial celebration, with both gods reunited, reveling in the whiskey that once sparked their debate.

Sustainability plays a role, too. The box is wrapped in FSC-certified, soft-touch paper with a water-based coating and fully recyclable — though most fans keep it as a lasting keepsake.

An NFC-enabled label lets owners verify authenticity and unlock a digital extension of the story, blending ancient myth with modern ritual. Inside, whiskey finished in pulque curado de cacao casks delivers notes of caramel cream, dark chocolate-dipped citrus, rain-soaked slate, and brûléed flan — a flavor journey as layered as the legend itself.

Feather & Flame isn’t just a whiskey. It’s a story you can collect, a ritual you can open, and a rye worthy of the gods — or at least those bold enough to drink like one.

Credits

WhistlePig Whiskey
Eliza McClure
WhistlePig Whiskey
Paul Herr
WhistlePig Whiskey
Jackie Kolovrat
WhistlePig Whiskey
Derek Hamilton
GPA Global
Micky Verma
Resource Label Group
Lance Wilson
Danforth Pewter
Tim Copeland
Aztec Culture Consultant
Carol Tyroler,
Photographer & Videographer
Andrew Braden
Illustrator
Johnatan Correa Hernandez
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