The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Custom bottle moulds for spirits are a significant upfront investment, typically £20–30k for a bespoke mould in the UK. This cost is usually amortised into the first production run (around 20k bottles), adding roughly £1.50 per unit to initial costs. **Mould costs and production routes:** - **UK suppliers** — typically charge £20–30k upfront for a custom mould, with payment expected upfront or 50% upfront for new customers; mould costs are amortised across the first ~20k bottles - **Chinese suppliers** — can deliver 20k bottles at ~£0.85 per unit including mould costs and trial runs (undecorated, 500g bottles), but freight costs vary significantly (currently £5–6k per 40ft container, which holds ~20k bottles; COVID saw rates spike to £14k); quality can be inconsistent - **Berlin Packaging** — recommended for competitive UK pricing, good contact support, and manufacturing outside China - **Vetreria Etrusca** (https://www.vetreriaetrusca.it/en) — Italian supplier praised by members **Key considerations:** - MOQ (minimum order quantity) is typically 10k–20k bottles; smaller runs are possible from Chinese suppliers but at higher per-unit cost - Freight volatility from China is a significant risk factor; current rates are normalising post-COVID but remain a consideration - UK glass suppliers (e.g. from Yorkshire) offer better quality control and relationship flexibility, though at higher per-unit cost - Total phase-1 capital required (mould + initial production) is typically £250k+ for a serious launch **Caveats:** Members warned of quality inconsistencies with some Chinese suppliers despite lower costs; UK suppliers offer better reliability but at premium pricing. Be cautious of unsolicited Chinese supplier outreach (common via LinkedIn). Freight costs remain volatile.