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Sempli Shares the Process Behind Monti-IRI Limited Edition Taste Set

06.16.20 | By
Sempli Shares the Process Behind Monti-IRI Limited Edition Taste Set

Sempli has made multiple appearances on the pages of Design Milk with their unique, “Swedish functionality – Italian design” philosophy that translates to elegant, visually appealing glassware. The Los Angeles-based brand effortlessly brings the best of both countries, giving nod to founder Daniele ‘Danne’ Semeraro’s dual heritage. A prime example is Sempli’s popular Monti Taste set of beer glasses. They took the design a step further by giving the four glasses an iridescent finish and releasing them as the Sempli Monti-IRI Limited Edition Taste Set. Only 200 sets have been made, so if you’re looking to elevate your beer drinking game or someone else’s, you better jump on them while you still can. In the meantime, read on to see how Sempli made these ethereal glasses come to life, in this month’s Deconstruction.

With a name inspired by the ancient Egyptian word for eye, the Monti-IRI Limited Edition Taste Set by Sempli is a myriad of color and reflections paying homage to past millennia while looking towards the next one. The mesmerizing dichroic finish is not only stunning in its divine looks, but also stands the test of time with effortless beauty.

Each of the four [lead-free crystal] glasses in the set — (12 oz.) Monti-IPA, Monti-Pils and Monti-Birra, and (19 oz.) Monti-Pint — is designed to hold its own specific type of beer while maintaining a cohesive look. The curvy IPA glass is designed to enhance the robust flavors of this popular historic brew. Standing tall, the Pils keeps the effervescence in the bohemian king of beers. Lastly, the 12 oz Birra holds any lager to perfection, just like its slightly larger sibling the Pint, which has room for a full 19 oz pour of your favorite ale.

R&D sketches of glass shapes by Daniele ‘Danne’ Semeraro, Sempli founder and designer, along with beer tests in various glasses from previous collections.

Red-lining CAD drawings for changes and planning.

3D rendering of the glasses to finalize the design (Monti-IPA glass rendering shown).

3D rendering of the glasses to finalize the design (Monti-IPA glass rendering shown).

Initial glass at the end of the blowing rod. The glass blowing process begins when the master glass blower reaches inside the furnace filled with clear, melted glass and gathers a layer of molten glass on the end of a steel blowpipe.

The actual glass blowing begins. It starts with a puff on the end of the blowpipe to create a bubble. The bubble is then slightly shaped before it goes into the cast iron mold that holds the shape of the design(s).

The shaped bubble is inserted into one of the (four) cast iron molds, which is surrounded with water for cooling, while the master glass blower turns the blowpipe and starts blowing air into the glass bubble. The glass bubble then expands into the mold to finally take its shape.

The (four) cast iron molds that are used to create each glass — (12 oz.) Monti-IPA, Monti-Pils and Monti-Birra, and (19 oz.) Monti-Pint — in the Monti-IRI Limited Edition Taste Set.

The end result from the glass process before the iridescent finish is made and applied (Monti-Pint glasses shown).

The iridescent finish is a bit of a magic trick and secret, so let’s just say the glass gets turned into a soap-like bubble to turn out like this.

The final version of the Monti-IRI Limited Edition Taste Set.

>>> To purchase the Sempli Monti-IRI Limited Edition Taste Set, visit the Design Milk Shop here, or to see everything Sempli makes, go here! <<<

For the month of June, we are donating a percentage of the Design Milk Shop sales to The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. For more information and organizations to donate to and/or get involved in click here.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.