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Reimagining an Italian Tradition with Cicchetto

Reimagining an Italian Tradition with Cicchetto

Background

Cicchetto is a Toronto-based alcohol brand and the brainchild of two first-generation Italian food and beverage industry veterans. Their offerings are steeped in Italian tradition but crafted with thoroughly modern techniques. Blackjet was tasked with branding Cicchetto’s inaugural product offerings, Chichetto Limone and Mandarino, as well as its latest launch, the complex and herbacious Amaro York.

Charting a Course

The initial brand design work for Limone and Mandarino was inspired by the illustrations depicted on traditional Italian Scopa cards, which you’ll often find present in situations in which limoncello and mandarinetto are being sipped upon in ‘the old country’. The typography of those labels was further inspired by mid-century Italian movie posters. While these elements looked to the past, like the base recipe for the bottles’ contents, their combination is decidedly modern, reflecting the techniques with which Cicchetto is produced.

Amaro York is the latest addition to the lineup. The illustrative design of the label elegantly echoes the vintage allure of the art-deco-inspired bottle, encapsulating a timeless, classical essence. The bottle itself is crafted to appear as if it’s graced shelves for decades, marrying the charm of the old world with geometric line art for a fresh, contemporary twist. The label’s maple syrup hue not only nods to the beverage’s star ingredient but also enhances its visual warmth. The typography pays homage to classic Italian cinema, like its predecessors, incorporating subtle flecks across its surface that complement the overall aesthetic, blending nostalgia with modernity.

Arriving at the Destination

Chichetto Limone and Mandarino, and herbacious Amaro York currently grace the shelves of boutique bottle shops and specialty stores across Canada.