Bontonic

Unifruit set out to launch a new tonic water with a clear objective: a quality product at a competitive price that could carve out its own space in an increasingly crowded market. Before any design work could begin, a more fundamental question had to be answered — what to call it, and what that name should say.

The goal was to create a brand that speaks to a modern lifestyle — bars, cocktail culture, the gin & tonic ritual — while carrying a deeper undertone. A nod to values that seem to be quietly disappearing: politeness, elegance, and good manners. That thinking led to the name BONTONIC — a portmanteau of bon (French for "good") and tonic, with a hidden layer: the Croatian word bonton, meaning etiquette. A name that operates on multiple levels at once. The visual identity mirrors that duality: a blend of clean modern geometry and vintage illustration gives the bottle an immediate character that stands out on the shelf. Quality is underlined with metallic foil printing. The taglines "For Refined Ladies and Gentlemen" and "Gin's Best Friend" wrap up the story with wit and style.

BONTONIC was well received as exceptional value for money, successfully reaching its planned market share with steadily growing sales. But perhaps the most telling sign of success was an unexpected one: among younger urban audiences, the name crossed over into everyday slang — calling someone "a real bontonic" means they have good manners. When a brand becomes part of how people speak, you know you've struck something real.