BALBAL

The secret liquor of the Scythians

Design concept of an authentic liquor

We designed a product for those who want to retain the belief in magic, tribal bonds, and nature even in the post industrial society.

Balbals are ancient steppe stone sculptures erected to commemorate the power and dominance of the chiefs — they are perceivable phallic symbols. In the Turkic languages, bal also means honey.

We used the coincidence to conceive the bottle for a honey liqueur and honey-containing arkhi, a traditional alcoholic drink made of distilled milk, with ginseng, which is long-known as aphrodisiac, and Altai herbs. A premium product in the range, Balbal in the metalized bottle, is a triple distilled horz.

The mold shape wears out over time — glass bottles, just like stone sculp — tures, will gradually change their appearance.

Two topics pervade the project: traditions and sexuality. Stories and history stir up interest and elicit trust, while sex is a no fail trigger for discussion. The bottle shape may be used for effective marketing communications. The brand slogan is “BALBAL. Ancestors’ powers”.