Beginning to see the light: UV Vodka’s photochromic bottle reveals bright colors through sun exposure

16 Sep 2021 --- Phillips Distilling Company’s UV Vodka is launching a new photochromic bottle design that activates a bright spectrum of colors when exposed to UV sunlight. The modern design can be found across the US at grocery, liquor, wine and convenience stores. 

The new tagline “Bring the Light” is the brand’s first campaign focused on building a deeper relationship between the UV name and its connection with ultraviolet rays.

Sunlight is the key to activate the colorful photochromic wave design that appears on the neck of the bottle and the primary label.

When the bottle is removed from sunlight, the new bold black UV logo remains while the colorful waves disappear.

Consumers see the light
According to CTI research, sunlight-activated ink drives purchase intent for 64% of consumers. Each of the brand’s unique bottles are American-made, naturally flavored, distilled four times and filtered with active carbon for a smooth taste.

Sunlight activates the colorful photochromic wave design that appears on the neck of the bottle and the primary label.“We wanted to come up with a fun, energetic way to express the UV brand and strengthen the connection with ultraviolet light,” comments Jeff Twomey, senior brand manager at Phillips Distilling Company.

“Besides wanting a quality vodka, more than half of UV Vodka drinkers say they look for ‘cool’ packaging on shelf and want a fun, engaging experience that stands out from our competitors.”

UV Vodka is distributed nationally with its main customer base in the Midwest, including Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois. The brand is priced in the mid-tier category.

“There’s a wonderful opportunity for us to bring a Midwest, straightforward American sensibility to the vodka market,” adds Twomey.

“It’s where we have been creating spirits innovation for more than 100 years, and it makes UV Vodka very relevant to today’s and tomorrow’s consumer.”Solarcan Colours converts metal cans into colorful cameras that capture sunlight.

Sun-capturing beverage can cameras
In similar innovation, Solarcan Colours converts 440 mL metal cans made from recycled aluminum into colorful cameras that capture the sun’s light as it travels across the sky via extreme-time exposures.

Inside the new Solarcans Eldorado, Atlantis and Nebula are 5 x 7” sheets of Ilford photographic paper. Peeling away the protective black tab reveals the pinhole lens, allowing light to pass through. 

Every day, the sun rises slightly higher or lower depending on the season and creates a new path. Over weeks, months or even years, the light will gradually scorch the path the sun takes through the sky, and a star-struck image will begin to form inside the Solarcan.

Since the Solarcan is machine-sealed, no liquid will pass through and damage the paper inside. Once users “run out of patience,” they can remove the photographic paper from inside the can, scan with a camera and invert to see the final image.

By Joshua Poole