Premium rum brand Palm Republic has unveiled a sophisticated new identity created in partnership with Grandmerci, positioning itself as a leader in the emerging luxury rum space. Founded by Eric Winter and Brad Parkes, the brand’s refresh aims to shift category perceptions while honoring rum’s Caribbean roots. The redesigned packaging highlights a blend sourced from Panama, Jamaica, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — each contributing depth, structure, and freshness across the Silver and Aged expressions.
.
.
Grandmerci’s approach moves away from traditional rum tropes, introducing a faceted bottle inspired by palm fronds, custom typography, and illustrated native palms from each source region. Deep blue glass and wave detailing reinforce the brand’s positioning: “Where it takes you…” The team at Grandmerci researched the palm species native to each of the rum’s source countries in order to illustrate them on the label, further grounding the brand in authenticity. At the bottle’s base, wave details reference the sea that connects these countries, the deep blue glass gives the impression of the bottle being dipped into the ocean. “This was about bringing the brand story to life at a new level,” said Winter.
.
.
Led by founder and CEO Kasia Bannon, Grandmerci assembled a bespoke creative team to deliver the project — marking its first fully integrated alcohol brand redesign, including structural packaging. Bannon, a former leader at Design Bridge and Partners, launched the agency in 2024 to offer a more agile, collaborative model.
.
Bannon herself has over 20 years of experience in the alcohol beverage sector, previously serving as the head of North America for WPP’S Design Bridge and Partners where she led the Diageo relationship. “Great work is shaped by great clients, ones who understand that the very best design is made possible via attention to detail and close collaboration,” says Bannon. “We lead with a consultancy mindset — hand-picking expert talent that’s uniquely positioned to help our clients tackle their problems, and proudly owning everything from strategy to execution. Tim Vary, Creative Director, and John Hall, 3D Creative Director, were instrumental in us delivering on this brief.”
