A new mixologist-quality ready to drink (RTD) cocktail from Dutch beverage company Fiorito B.V. is set to turn heads in an impressive can with a unique and contemporary ‘watermark’ design made possible by the expertise and commitment of Ardagh Group’s Graphics team.

Limoncello Tonic is the latest addition to a range of drinks made from Fiorito’s award-winning limoncello, based on an old recipe from the founders’ family in Sicily. At 5% ABV and flavoured with basil and natural lemongrass, the cocktail sees Fiorito enter the fast-growing RTD category – and thanks to its clever design, the 250ml slim Ardagh can in iridescent golden yellow is bound to make a splash.

Fiorito’s distinctive vision for the packaging for its first canned drink was a bright and shining yellow aesthetic, suggesting a hot summer day, with a background of sophisticated geometric lines to enhance the feel of quality – like a watermark. The design challenge was to achieve the sweet spot between pin-sharp colour contrast and the subtle simplicity Fiorito was looking for.

Presented with a chance to innovate, Ardagh’s renowned Graphics team decided to use the same yellow in two shades to achieve the watermark effect, using a plate with wide open lines to print a second layer and achieve a main can colour that is darker than its ‘background.’ This approach also eliminated the chance of any registration problems. Finished with a matte over-varnish, the resulting pack looks crisp, sharp and sophisticated, beautifully expressing the sparkling, slightly bitter lemon-tonic cocktail inside.

Ardagh’s Graphics teams are located in several European countries, in close proximity to customers with the benefit of speaking their local language. Benno Fiorito, Director of Fiorito B.V., says: “We wanted a premium, no-nonsense look for the can, to reflect the simplicity of our drinks. We worked very closely with Ardagh’s Graphics team who helped us select the right colours, and it was great to be able to test the designs on the can directly.”

Fiorito’s Limoncello Tonic RTD is targeted at on-the-go Millennials who appreciate the freedom of enjoying a delicious cocktail either straight from the cooled can or over ice.

The pack is filled by Avandis and available now in Albert Heijn, JUMBO and other outlets in the Netherlands, with Israel next on the list as distribution expands.