The world's first and only 100% Himalayan Distillery and its brands. From farm to bottle.
The Himalayas are special. Revered by the regions that they crown. They stretch uninterruptedly for about 1,550 miles (2,500 km) in Asia, forming a barrier between the Plateau of Tibet to the north and the alluvial plains of the Indian subcontinent to the south. They also include the highest mountains in the world, with more than 110 peaks rising to elevations of 24,000 feet (7,300 meters) or more above sea level. Now that's elevating!
For thousands of years the Himalayas have held a profound significance for the peoples of South Asia, as their literature, mythologies, and religions reflect. Since ancient times the vast glaciated mountain system has attracted the attention of the devout and the adventurous. The pilgrim mountaineers of India coined the ancient Sanskrit name Himalaya—from hima (“snow”) and alaya (“abode”)—for it. In modern times the Himalayas have offered the greatest challenge and draw for avid mountaineers throughout the world.
And now this has been the spirited challenge for independent artisanal distilleries like Himmaleh (where did this name originate from?...hmm that's the beginning of this venture design account).
Our latest adventure took us to the Himalayan territory of Kumaon, a region where we have had earlier adventures. But this time it was to venture-design and develop a multi-spirits category artisanal distillery and develop a cluster of artisanal brands that introduce a farm to bottle story of India.
This is an account of the last year and half and from a diary that has many more stories to publish and adventures to recount.
The Venture Design team was extremely particular, fastidious in fact, that the new business must a Himalayan name and one that needs no translation. And it had to be "you"nique as we call it.
Joining the dots and looking at stranger places always yields beautiful results when building and crafting a brand. And there it was, though not in plain sight, but plain verse. The tale of the Himalayas stooping down to speak to a small daisy flower is a beautiful poem of compassion and grand humility, and that for us evoked the character of the distillery and what it is inspired by. Nobility was the emotion, that sought a name. And we found it with Himmaleh.
The Himmaleh was known to stoop
Unto the Daisy low—
Transported with Compassion
That such a Doll should grow
Where Tent by Tent—Her Universe
Hung out its Flags of Snow—
Could we have asked for a more spirited experience? Especially when the region of produce, distillation and bottling it has provenance and pedigree written all over. Over its terroir, products and process. Probably yes. But as poetic?? Probably not.
Himmaleh Distillery brings in a beautiful world together. Nature's orchards, passionate grower communities, glacial sources, wilderness, Tiger tales, brave foragers, artful distillers and consumers who seek the unordinary.
NYUCT Design Labs worked with the founders to design and bring alive a venture that has Himalayan ambitions. United around a passion for high craft, small batch spirits. To create high quality, discerning brands for the “spirit geeks”.
Himmaleh as a venture is a proud ambassador of its region, staying deeply authentic in its making-ethics and which is evident in a portfolio that through flavors, presence and packaging evokes the essence of Uttarakhand, India. Honest to its roots. The brand design and venture development mandate included strategy, positioning, branding, product and packaging, experience design, program innovations, website, content and storytelling. All of which remained close to ground. This allowed the Venture Design team to go further and deeper to articulate the essence of the new business. There are 3 more products that are work in progress as we speak.
NYUCT Design Labs is a unique venture design firm that works with organizations, businesses and founders to transform exponential ideas into new futures, ventures and products.
Transform exponential ideas into amazing ventures and products with design, innovation and a maker's community.
For crafting this brand and the design of the venture we were guided by our host and muse - the Himalayas and of course the product universe envisioned for the distillery. And like its muse - the fabled Kumaon, the endeavor was to be uncompromising and traceable.
The design and development journey started with NYUCT Design Labs putting together a detailed strategy using frameworks and tools which help doing both - "think the do and do the think". Once the strategic direction was iterated and set, the team went about putting together the positioning, narrative, design, brand, packaging and experience blocks. The team at NYUCT Design Labs worked on bringing alive the world's first and only 100% Himalayan Distillery from farm to bottle engaging across strategy, design, brand & product development, packaging, experience design, integrated marketing, website development and content across multiple spirit categories as also for the master brand. It is not everyday that you get to venture design a business and product that claims the essence of the mighty Himalayas.
Venture Design is a multi- disciplinary practice that blends design, agile strategy, technology and imagination. In today's entrepreneurial world, makers, businesses and founders desire to create amazing businesses, products, services and experiences. And this is where Venture Design helps.
If you are a forward-thinking business or founder wanting to transform an exponential idea into a business/product/service, then Venture Design can help make this journey faster, better and smoother. Our multidisciplinary teams work alongside you to grow concepts into launch-ready ventures and brands.
