Uncover & Understand
Founded by Jeff Quint in 2005, Cedar Ridge became the first licensed distillery in Iowa since Prohibition. As the distillery approached its 20th anniversary, Cedar Ridge needed something that commemorated the milestone while speaking to their mindset. So, we sat down with members of their team to get a feel for their tone, style, and aspirations.
Ideate & Implement
Cedar Ridge has done things differently from the beginning. The very idea of making whiskey in Iowa seemed like a far-fetched venture to whiskey enthusiasts around the country, but Cedar Ridge took it as a challenge. They wound up creating some of the most awarded and sought-after whiskey in the nation. That’s the spirit that drove our concept work.
We developed two initial concepts—complete with supporting messaging—and presented them to the Cedar Ridge team. They gravitated toward one concept for its nod to originality, fearless experimentation, and the distillery’s Iowa roots:
Never Blend In
From there, we knew the best way to bring this concept to life was through video.
Refine & Refresh
With a concept and direction established, we drafted a script influenced by our supporting messaging, and our video team spent the next few weeks capturing footage all around Cedar Ridge. What followed was a video made to raise a glass and the hairs on your neck.
The script is narrated by members of the Quint family and other Cedar Ridge staff, conveying how every person has a hand in making this distillery one of a kind. Doing what others hadn’t thought of in a place they’d never considered with people who took it personal. Those are the ingredients to standing out.
The Refreshingly Meaningful Part
Honoring a local distillery and staking a claim to a future of never fitting in. If that doesn’t feel right, we don’t know what does. Raising a glass to Cedar Ridge. Because in all things life and whiskey, it’s best to never blend in.
