Ludlows Cocktail Co. is out to re-invent the Jell-O shot, that food-alcohol hybrid that many drinkers leave behind when they graduate from college. The company’s silver bullet is Ludlows Jelly Shots, a sophisticated, artisanal product line with a packaging design to match.

The upscale gelatin shots are packaged in single-serve rigid containers. These 50-ml polypropylene cups are packed vertically into six-sided cartons. Each carton holds a stack of five cups sealed with rotogravure-printed foil lids; two vertical die-cut windows (open, without film) on the carton offer a good view of the product. The cups can also be sold individually, as the lids are printed with all necessary legal copy for individual sale in a counter display.

The ready-to-serve, 30-proof gelatin shots, which are made with natural ingredients and premium spirits, come in five classic-cocktail flavors: Fresh Lime Margarita, Meyer Lemon Drop, Old Fashioned, Planter’s Punch and Moscow Mule.

To differentiate the Ludlows Jelly Shots brand from brightly colored conventional gelatin shots—without making the brand seem too serious—the company uses light, upbeat, fun colors on its cartons and foil lids. In addition, the selective use of black dresses up the cartons. The color contrast adds visual interest, and the glossy black provides a premium touch.

Woodcut-style illustrations on the cartons depict the relevant inspirational cocktail served in an appropriately shaped glass; an anecdote about the cocktail appears below the image. The cartons are offset printed in six colors and topped with an acrylic coating.