Tavern Marks Its Second Anniversary
Branding firm Tavern is celebrating its two-year milestone, and to honor the moment, the team crafted a striking custom wine—complete with an elaborate, one-of-a-kind glorifier (a fancy display stand). Inspired by dive bars, Italian American social clubs, and classic red sauce joints, this sparkling red Lambrusco isn’t just a gift—it’s a showcase of Tavern’s playful energy and limitless creative flair.
The bottle itself is worthy of a spot in the Packaging Design Hall of Fame, thanks to its mix of vintage typography and cross-style aesthetic influences. Utterly unique and delightfully bold, Tavern’s second-anniversary wine is a perfect example of how the agency is already leaving its mark on the industry with a fresh, innovative vibe.
In a chat with Creative Bloq, Tavern’s Strategy Director Lisa Franck shared her thoughts on the agency’s second year. “Year two was a wild ride—in the best possible way. We launched so many exciting projects: a major rebrand for Sizzler Family Steak House, a campaign highlighting the historic legacy of Overholt Rye Whiskey, and heritage-inspired merch for Burt’s Bees, just to name a few. To celebrate all these wins, we wanted to wrap things up on a high note—raising a glass to everyone who’s supported us along the way,” she said.
Designed as a gift for clients, Tavern’s in-house wine draws inspiration from Italian American social clubs and the “timeless, lived-in charm” of a classic tavern. The label’s design revolves around the agency’s wordmark, rendered in a bold, condensed version of Century Schoolbook. Paired with 1970s-era Minuet and Grilli Type Standard fonts, the label strikes a stylish balance between modern sleekness and retro elegance—finished with “vintage seals, overlay stamps, and plenty of label blocking,” all inspired by the team’s favorite beer labels.
To make the gift even more special, Tavern designed a custom glorifier for the bottle—one that doubles as an ashtray. The horse motif (also featured on the wine label) pays homage to the agency’s “unofficially official mascot.” Crafted from patinated brass and embossed with Tavern’s seal and logo, this horseshoe-shaped glorifier-ashtray hybrid adds the perfect finishing touch to the luxurious gift, showcasing the team’s thoughtful, delightfully quirky creativity.
“All year long, we work on building other people’s brands,” Lisa explained. “So while this gift was absolutely meant to thank our clients and close agency friends, it’s also a chance for us to treat ourselves—diving into our own brand for a change. This year, we leaned into the magic of two unexpected elements playing off each other: the elegance of a high-end wine bottle, paired with a gilded glorifier that’s also an ashtray. It’s that sense of timelessness you only get from something that feels both new and familiar, old and fresh, all at once.”
Each package includes a mock membership card to the agency’s fictional “Tavern Club”—adding an extra layer of fun immersion—and every bottle is hand-dipped in wax, stamped with the horse logo. “We love our clients, but let’s be real—we might be our own best client, because it lets us show off what we can do,” said Tavern’s Founder and CCO Mike Perry. “We’re obsessed with DIY projects, handcrafting things, and even dipping bottles in wax—it takes us back to why we became designers in the first place.”
Tavern’s in-house wine is easily one of the most ambitious, immersive, and impressive projects they’ve done—and let’s be honest, it’ll be tough to top in the years ahead. As for what’s next, Lisa teases: “Our agency brand is built on the idea that a tavern has many different forms. As we keep growing and changing, the Tavern we’re building—including any Tavern-branded drinks down the line—will evolve right along with us.”
