We implemented a wholistic design approach to create a tasting area for craft Rakı. The Mey Diageo design was expanded to other areas of the factory, resulting in an overall transformation of the facility with an updated design language, an industrial look & feel, a brand story, and strong digital design components throughout the visitor journey.

The Mey experience centre design's components embedded into the overall production journey of Rakı are aimed to reflect the function of each segment within the factory. Visitors are immersed in a sensory tour through the various production areas, arriving at the "Journey of the Grape and Anise" where they can smell the main ingredients and view the complete production process. The variety of the final product is showcased on the "Brand Wall" where each different brand of Rakı ever produced by Mey Diageo can be viewed.

In this innovation area visitors can read the production details and chemical formulas on the walls covered in tiles. Plywood wall coverings contrast the clean tiles and are decorated with drawings of the grape producing regions and the plant itself. This contrast tells the story of the natural ingredient and its transformation in the lab.

The “hall of masters” is an homage to the people whose work made Rakı the favourite drink it is today. Responding to the client’s request to create a locker space for storing personal belongings while entering the production areas, we created space that tells the story of the past evoking excitement for viewing the present.

The tour ends, leaving time for many instagrammable spots along the way, with a favourite feature of allowing guests to taste the product generating deep understanding of the drink in line with the detailed effort and wisdom integrated in the process of bringing it from vine to table. Called the “Tasting Wheel” visitors are able to learn about the flavor profile of different types of Rakı with information reflected through video mapping on to the table.