71Signal
Score
D
Design WeekAugust 19, 2026

Studio Thirst celebrates Caribbean culture with Ponche Kuba redesign

The redesign of Ponche Kuba by Studio Thirst highlights the importance of modernizing heritage brands to appeal to contemporary audiences. By focusing on Caribbean culture and connecting with the diaspora, brands can enhance their relevance and expand their market reach.

◎ EmergingrebrandstrategyidentityPonche KubaMount Gay

Design Week: First created in 1942 and crafted at Mount Gay Distilleries in Barbados, Ponche Kuba is a rum cream liqueur with more than eight decades of heritage. Mount Gay commissioned international design studio Thirst to modernise the brand for a new generation, strengthening its connection with the Caribbean diaspora while introducing the drink to global taste […]

Intelligence PanelSignal score: 70.5 / 100
Primary Signal
Emerging
Building momentum — trajectory being tracked
Brand Impact
Medium
Impact score: 70/100 — moderate relevance to positioning decisions
Novelty
Moderate
Novelty: 60/100 — iterative development of an existing theme
Action Priority
Soon
Flag for the next strategic review cycle
Scoring Rationale

The article discusses a significant rebranding effort that modernizes a heritage brand, which is impactful for brand strategy, especially in culturally rich markets, while also offering insights that are relevant to professionals in the industry.

70
Impact
weight 35%
60
Novelty
weight 30%
80
Relevance
weight 35%
Brands Mentioned
PPonche KubaMMount Gay
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