Original Grit Tequila

From Rendering to Reality: TricorBraun Crafts the Original Grit Tequila Bottle

Step inside Kemo Sabe and you’re greeted by the scent of fine leather, the glint of silver buckles, and the fun of sipping while you shop. This iconic Colorado-based Western retailer is as much an experience as it is a destination. So, when Kemo Sabe set out to create its own premium spirit, Original Grit Tequila, it had to reflect the same authenticity and character that defines the brand.

The vision began with a bottle rendering, inspired by owner Wendy Kunkle’s trip to Jalisco, Mexico, and was brought to life through three custom 750-mL bottles designed by TricorBraun to capture a vintage, premium, and unmistakably Western aesthetic.

But bringing her vision to life required the right partner. With TricorBraun’s deep design expertise, material insight, and strong supplier relationships, Original Grit knew the company was a clear choice.

“Our team had never done this before and quickly realized how many moving parts in the development process we didn’t fully grasp. There was never any doubt that TricorBraun could provide the real guidance we needed every step of the custom packaging process,” said Paige Rogers, Vice President of Operations, Original Grit Tequila. 

Bringing a Vision to Life Through Design, Sourcing, and Compliance Expertise 

Original Grit came to TricorBraun with a bottle rendering, and TricorBraun made it manufacturable. According to Chelsea Baird, Industrial Designer at TricorBraun, “Our early design work focused on translating their Old Western-inspired rendering into a functional 3D form. We then refined the shoulder profile and integrated flat label panels that flowed cleanly into the shoulders, creating a strong visual border without losing the bottle’s stature.”

Original Grit also wanted the bottle to feature distinctive embossing that would stand out without compromising manufacturability. TricorBraun explored how to deliver on both fronts. “We created renderings that included white screen print over the front embossing to show how the lettering would pop visually in retail or on a bar shelf,” said Jim Ruck, Graphic Designer, TricorBraun.

The Jalisco landscape and damajuanas — unusually large glass bottles that Kunkle encountered during her trip — inspired the bottle colors. She envisioned three distinct colors for the Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo tequila expressions. 

“TricorBraun worked with a supplier in Mexico to create physical color samples, but shipping them across the border slowed the process, risking the launch timeline,” said Barron. “To speed up the process, TricorBraun and Original Grit Tequila visited the manufacturing site together in Mexico to review and approve the colors.”

“Griffin traveled with me to Mexico City to evaluate the colors under different lighting conditions and provide real-time guidance,” said Rogers. “His deep packaging expertise, combined with a clear understanding of our business goals and manufacturing realities, enabled us to move quickly and confidently, knowing our vision would be executed exactly as intended.”

Beyond color selection, the team also had to address labeling and compliance. According to Rogers, “Initially, our bottle only had a side-panel label, and we weren’t aware of all the compliance requirements, including FDA and TTB regulations. TricorBraun helped us develop a compliant front label with required elements like ABV and volume.”

“We sourced a rustic, natural-looking craft paper and created the labels with rough, imperfect edges to capture the handmade, aged aesthetic Original Grit desired,” added Ruck. 

TricorBraun also engaged one of its supplier partners to provide a custom top and side-engraved wood bottle closure with an agglomerated cork.  

Results: A True Partnership Delivers an On-Time Launch with Big Impact

Original Grit Tequila held a soft launch at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic in June 2025, followed by a full launch in late July.

“People love the bottles,” said Rogers. “There’s so much energy and excitement around this brand!”

Custom packaging doesn’t have to mean headaches and long lead times, according to Barron. “At TricorBraun, we manage every aspect of the process to drive efficiency and support on-time execution.”

What impressed Rogers most about working with TricorBraun was the exceptional service and deep industry knowledge from development to commercialization: “TricorBraun’s responsiveness and resources made the process feel seamless. They were always there to help with anything we needed, acting as an extension of our team. It was a true partnership.”

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