Beverage companies are celebrating history this month with new packaging that honors important historical moments in both their companies and the world. Dr Pepper Snapple Group released collectible cans to highlight its history while Moet Hennessy is celebrating the bicentennial of Mexico’s independence with a limited-edition bottle.

Collectible cans
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Plano, Texas, released Dr Pepper made with real sugar in six collectible cans. The designs on each can reflect the company’s 125-year history with legacy artwork and advertising slogans, such as “I’m a Pepper” and “10, 2 and 4.” The company also will use 12-pack cases to recognize key moments in the brand’s history, including its origin at Morrison’s Old Corner Drug Store in Waco, Texas, and its introduction at the 1904 World’s Fair.

Age designation
Knappogue Castle, New York, repackaged its 12-Year-Old single malt Irish whiskey to clarify the age of its product. The company will change from vintage dating to age designation. The age of the whiskey now is displayed largely across the package to eliminate confusion about the product’s age, though some of the company’s rare and unique distillations still will feature a vintage date, Knappogue says.

Twist-off caps
Kristian Regale, Paramus, N.J., repackaged its 11.1-ounce non-alcohol sparkling juice line, which it will produce in the U.S. for the first time at Cold Spring Brewing, Cold Spring, Minn. The company now uses twist-off bottle caps and plastic pressure-sensitive labels that are durable and resistant to ice. The glass bottle also has changed its shape, Kristian Regale says.

Anniversary bottle
Moet Hennessy USA, Los Angeles, released a limited-edition bottle of its Hennessy brand cognac to celebrate the bicentennial anniversary of Mexico’s independence. Each bottle is numbered individually and packaged in a collectible gift box, which features vintage art that showcases Hennessy’s legacy in Mexico, the company says. A “Mexico 2010” seal will adorn the box and 750-ml. bottle, which will be available in Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Texas and throughout Mexico.

New beer package
Warsteiner, a German beer, rolled out its Oktoberfest beer with new bottle labels, cans and packaging materials. The company placed greater emphasis on the golden color of the label and updated its text style on its Oktoberfest labels. The company’s logo, which includes a crown on the beer’s label and the text “Eine Königin unter den Bieren,” was redesigned. On Oktoberfest bottles, neck labels were placed in a new arrangement to link the round logo and seal band, the company says.

Hot-fill PET bottle
Spartan Beverages Inc., Valencia, Calif., released a line of all-natural protein waters in 16-ounce PET containers using Amcor Rigid Plastics’
Active Hinge technology. The hot-fill bottles use 40 percent less material and cost 20 percent less than other bottles, Amcor says. The Active Hinge technology uses horizontal hinges for vertical movement and absorb the vacuum as the liquid cools, giving the package high-radial stiffness and top-load strength, the company says.

Charitable packaging
MillerCoors, Chicago, released specially marked packages of Miller High Life and Miller High Life Light for its “Give a Veteran a Piece of the High Life” promotion. For every bottle cap or can tab from the specially marked packages returned to participating retail accounts or via mail by Sept. 30, the company will donate $0.10 to provide “Hife Life” experiences for veterans. The total donation could be up to $1 million.