Aquetha: The Art of Aged Sake Reimagined

Tacto Inc. Transforms Idle Assets into Liquid Masterpieces

The challenge of enhancing the value of aged sake, an underappreciated asset in Japanese breweries, led Tacto Inc. to draw parallels with the art world, where the worth of a painting fluctuates with time and popularity. This insight birthed the concept of an online gallery, positioning aged sake as a treasure trove hidden across Japan, now curated and presented for appreciation and purchase.

Breaking free from the confines of traditional sake presentation, Aquetha stands out with its ice-temperature aging process. It serves as the flagship for the "Kitamura Sake Exhibition," an online gallery that views and sells aged sake as art. The initiative has garnered attention from Western liquor enthusiasts and younger demographics, previously unacquainted with the nuances of aged sake.

Artisanal craftsmanship is at the heart of Aquetha's design. Glass artist Yutaro Kijima was commissioned to create bottles that embody the passage of time, their gravity-shaped contours and clear labels reflecting the purity of ice-cold aging. The packaging, minimalist in form, enhances the bottle's flask-like silhouette, with a subtle indentation marking the timeline of maturation, infusing luxury into the design.

The accompanying website transcends traditional e-commerce platforms, offering a gallery-like experience where visitors can immerse themselves in the essence of the product. White-based visuals and delicate lines convey the slow, delicate maturation process of Aquetha, crafting a clean, sophisticated online space.

With dimensions meticulously noted, the bottle and package design ensure that the sake's quality is preserved across varying environments. The rounded bottle, a result of extensive collaboration and testing with the glass artist, is not only a vessel but also a contributor to the sake's graceful aging process.

Addressing sustainability, Aquetha turns potential waste into value, branding unsold sake as desirable aged beverages. This strategic rebranding benefits both the breweries and the consumers, preventing the discarding of perfectly aged sake. The project, completed over two months in Tokyo, exemplifies the harmonious blend of aesthetics and functionality, earning it a Silver A' Packaging Design Award in 2024.

Photographs by Masato Ishibashi capture the essence of Aquetha, while Yutaro Kijima's glass artistry brings the concept to life. This award-winning design not only elevates the status of aged sake but also sets a precedent for how cultural products can be reimagined through design and storytelling.