FIELD NOTES // Vin Mariani, 1863

The Tonic That Touched the World

Before energy drinks were a billion-dollar industry, there was Vin Mariani. A blend of Bordeaux wine and coca leaf extract, it promised vitality, endurance, and elevated mood—sold not as a vice, but as virtue. By the end of the 19th century, it was being sipped in salons, studios, and even sanctuaries.

Endorsed by Pope Leo XIII himself, who awarded it a Vatican gold medal and famously carried a personal flask, Vin Mariani wasn’t just popular—it was sacred. Writers, actors, explorers, and heads of state swore by it. It blurred lines between medicine, luxury, and something far more indulgent.

This design draws from the original label art—distilled, reimagined, and quietly rebellious. A nod to the days when branding was alchemy and the right bottle could rewrite the rules.

Contraband, yes. But dressed in elegance.