Old moonshine roots.
New Carolina flavor.
From Soil to Sip: Crafting a Legacy Rooted in Lore and Distilled with Purpose
Long before “craft” was a trend, North Carolina was bottling rebellion. In the moonlit hollers of the Blue Ridge Mountains, moonshine runners threaded down backroads with headlights off and hearts racing. Along the Outer Banks, pirate ships vanished into fog, their hulls heavy with barrels of liquor. This is the soil Pinetop Distillery grows from—rich with lore, wild at heart.
Bottled in Tradition •
From mountains to sea •
Bottled in Tradition • From mountains to sea •
The Identity
To bring Pinetop’s story to life, we rooted every brand element in the rich, rebellious folklore of North Carolina.
We built a brand that felt like it had existed forever—etched in bark, soaked in mist, and passed down in hushed toasts. The logo utilized a slab serif typeface—evoking vintage woodtype and letterpress aesthetics common in 19th-century Appalachia.
Traditional craftsmanship — the kind that predates automation
Southern signage and whiskey labels — grounding it in visual vernacular
Resilient character — the shadow and offset strokes give a worn, hand-hewn look, like something sanded smooth over time
01. IDENTITY
To bring Pinetop’s story to life, we rooted every brand element in the rich, rebellious folklore of North Carolina.
02. Product
Each flagship bottle tells a story of place—mountains and sea, grit and wind, rebellion and flight.
03. Merch
Merchandise became a mobile canvas—carrying the myths of moonshine and coastlines into everyday life.
04. AWARENESS CAMPAIGN
Follow the spirit trail from ridge to rip tide—one sip, one stop, one story at a time.
etched in bark,
soaked in mist
A restrained color palette of tobacco browns, smoke, and pine green evoked campfires and creek beds. The contrast between the strong slab characters and the more modern serif type used in “DISTILLERY” strikes a deliberate balance—heritage with clarity, tradition with polish.
Spirits of the Land:
One Legacy, Two Legends
Each flagship bottle tells a story of North Carolina —mountains and sea, grit and wind, rebellion and flight.
Carolina Moonshine:
Bottling the Blue Ridge
This clear glass bottle wraps you in the misty layers of the Blue Ridge Mountains—rich greens below, fading blues above. The label captures the spirit’s origin with a panoramic landscape that feels both timeless and true. A natural wood cork and embossed base finish the look with handcrafted authenticity. A vessel that doesn’t just hold spirit—it holds scenery.
Carolina Gin:
Born by the Breeze
This bottle captures golden hour on the Carolina coast—sun dipping low over calm Atlantic waves, framed by dunes and sea grass. The label’s warm glow and playful beach umbrella hint at the gin’s crisp, coastal character. It’s a spirit that tastes like summer, sealed with a natural wood cork and crafted for easy living.
The Pinetop Passage
From Peaks to Pour
Follow the spirit trail from ridge to rip tide—one sip, one stop, one story at a time.
To celebrate North Carolina’s wild heart (and wide reach), we launched the Pinetop Passage—a statewide campaign inviting fans to trace the roots of our spirits from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Outer Banks. The route follows a custom-designed map with key stops inspired by NC lore, local partnerships, and the stories behind every bottle.
Participants picked up a trail passport at participating distilleries, bottle shops, bars, and festivals, collecting stamps and entering giveaways along the way.
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Taste exclusive infusions at a speakeasy pop-up
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Snap a photo at our vintage truck for free merch
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Find the hidden gold pinecone for a free bottle of spirit
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Final stamp = limited edition "Carolina in My Mind" flask
20+
Local Partners
Custom-illustrated
Beverage Truck
5,000+
social media shares
Boosted
awareness + sales
in untapped regions of NC
Another round!
Another round!
LET’S WORK TOGETHER
I’m currently accepting new freelance clients—and I’d love to hear what you’re building.
From brand systems and sales decks to environmental graphics and campaign design, I bring strategic thinking and sharp visuals to every project. If you’re looking for a graphic designer who gets the big picture, let’s connect.