Creative California

In the Spring of 2008, Josh Rubin (founder of Creative California) was hired to help a startup magazine design its introductory marketing material, as well as the launch issue of the magazine, The Bourbon Review.  "We felt comfortable with Josh designing our magazine.  Not only did he have ample experience in the publishing industry, but he was professional and showed quality work," said Justin Thompson, publisher of TBR.  This was an exciting opportunity, as it was a startup operation and had creative design flexibility.

The first issue of The Bourbon Review was released in May 2008 to great reviews.  The vision of the founders, guided by Josh's design insight, produced an 88-page edition containing images and articles provided by the team.  This was an especially challenging project for several reasons:

• There was no exisiting template or model to design from.
• There was a hard deadline to get the issue to the printer in order to appease the advertisers.
• Most of the images were taken by the publishers  and had to be edited and enhanced to ensure high-quality printing.
• A majority of the advertisers needed their ads created for insertion in the publication.

Despite these challenges, the magazine was completed on time and to the satisfaction of all involved.  Being a startup, it was clear to all parties that this magazine was a work in progress.  After the initial publication came newer marketing kits, a website, posters, emails and more, all created by Josh Rubin.

The Summer 2010 issue contained a feature story on bourbon in the San Francisco Bay Area.  For this issue, The Bourbon Review hired Kari Bluff (Creative California's team photographer) to provide the cover photo, as well as additional photos for the feature story.

In an article in the Lexington Herald Leader (August 9, 2010, found here), The Bourbon Review was credited as a growing success.  "We've been very impressed with those guys," said Eric Gregory, president of the Kentucky Distillers Association. "The magazine is pretty well done."  Bill Samuels, president of Maker's Mark distillery, said the magazine was becoming an important player in efforts to leverage Kentucky's bourbon industry into a major tourism phenomenon.

In the Fall 2010 issue, The Bourbon Review received a design overhaul, courtesy of Creative California.  "I wanted this issue, the first of the third year, to be fresh and new.  Over time, publications tend to become stale and less attractive.  Most bourbon enthusaists know The Bourbon Review now.  It's on their radar.  What the magazine needs now is to appeal to a new, younger audience," said Josh Rubin.  A new logo, a modern style and change of features created what many are calling the best issue yet.