These cocktail recipe packs hide a gradient behind a die-cut olive

Mindsparkle: A Friend of Mine DATE September 23, 2026 EDITOR Mindsparkle Mag These cocktail recipe packs hide a gradient behind a die-cut olive Melbourne studio A Friend of Mine has designed The Cocktail Cabinet, a series of cocktail recipe card packs made for home bartenders. The brief from publisher Smith Street Books asked for something timeless, iconic and giftable — a piece of editorial design that would hold its own on a shelf as much as behind a home bar.The studio gave every pack a single abstract shape drawn from the spirit inside it.

An olive stands in for Gin, an ice cube for Whiskey and a lime wedge for Tequila, while Vodka takes a diamond, Spritz a circle and Aperitif an inverted triangle. Shared across the range, that language makes the set feel collectable and leaves room for the system to stretch as new editions arrive.On every deck the cover shape is cut clean through the lid. Lifting it reveals a vibrant gradient underneath, a nod to the way ingredients blend in a mixed drink.

The die-cut gives the colour-blocked packaging a tactile dimension, while blue gloss foil typography across the range keeps the whole set feeling elevated.Stacked together, the boxes read as a single block of colour, each spirit set large and flat across the spine.Inside, the cards cover drinks built on Gin, Whiskey, Tequila and Vodka, alongside Spritz and Aperitif-based cocktails.

Each one carries a bold, geometric illustration by Giacomo Bagnara, whose flat graphic style plays against the restraint of the outer box.The typesetting borrows from classic editorial and recipe-card conventions, breaking ingredients, garnishes and method into clear columns so a card stays readable mid-pour. A separate guide to garnishes rounds out each pack.Since launching in October 2024, The Cocktail Cabinet has been stocked internationally, including at the MoMA Design Store in New York.

Smith Street Books has seen strong sales and multiple reprints, and A Friend of Mine is now working on two further editions — Rum, and a Low/No set focused on non-alcoholic and low-alcohol drinks.

The article discusses an innovative packaging design that combines aesthetics with functionality, which is significant for the brand/design industry, though it may not represent a groundbreaking shift in strategy.