Ask the Collective
The questions independent drinks founders ask most — answered. Distilled from years of community knowledge so the good stuff never disappears in the feed again.
Which co-packers and bottlers can handle small-batch production, RTD bottling, and kegging services?
Members recommend several co-packers and bottlers for smaller production runs and specialist services. Here are the specific contacts and options shared: **Blending & Kegging** - **1.8** — Haydon and Jono reportedly handle kegging cocktails and support smaller batch production (though availability was queried, suggesting you should confirm current capacity). **Small-Batch Bottling (100–2000L)** - **Beamspack** — Members have used them and are happy to make introductions. - **Giraffe Distillers** — Can provide quotes; noted as having a dedicated miniature line (contact: Andy). - One member offered to support 2000L runs; DM for details. **Miniature Bottling** - **Beamspack** — Successfully handled miniature packing at scale (8,000 and 40,000 units mentioned). - **Giraffe Distillers** — Has a dedicated miniature line and can quote. **RTD (Bottles & Cans), In-Bond** The community discussion flagged this as a common need, but no specific suppliers were named in the excerpts—members asked for recommendations but the thread didn't resolve with named contacts. One member offered to DM details directly. **How to Connect** Several members offered to make direct introductions or provide contact details via DM. The community norm is to reach out to the thread or ask for an intro if a supplier is mentioned.
Where can members find co-packing services for liquid bagging, bottling with ROPP closures, pasteurisation, and white-label cocktail production?
Members have recommended several co-packers with different capabilities: **Liquid bagging and boxing:** - **RED Distillery** — Neil can handle liquid bagging and boxing services - **Blackbridge** — Ash offers bagging and boxing; members suggest requesting an introduction **Bonded bottling with ROPP closures, pasteurisation, and small MOQs (1000L+):** - **Ashley Blackbridge** — Recommended as excellent for bonded bottling work - **Rhys Mallows** — Suggested as a contact for this specification - **Giraffe Distillers** — Adam confirmed they can handle custom bottling requirements; will provide credentials, capacity, and MOQ details on request **White-label bottled cocktails for corporate customers:** - **World of Zing** — Pritesh handles significant white-label cocktail bottling work - **Giraffe Distillers** — Can produce bottled cocktails to specification - **Netherlands-based option** — One member mentioned having a contact for a co-packer in the Netherlands if UK capacity is unavailable **How to proceed:** Contact members directly via WhatsApp for introductions, or request decks with credentials, capacity, and MOQ information. Lead times should be discussed for spring/summer delivery needs.
What is the best process for preparing bottles in-house before filling?
Members emphasize that bottle preparation is essential to remove particulates and contaminants. The method depends on what you're bottling and your operation size. **Rinsing methods:** - **High-pressure air** — used by commercial bottlers; preferred for alcohol products because water can affect final ABV and circulate contaminants between bottles. Air also eliminates the need for drying time. - **Sterilised water** — simpler entry-level approach, but requires drying racks/towers afterward; less suitable for high-ABV products due to ABV dilution risk. - **Vodka wash (high-ABV bottle wash)** — used by some producers as an in-house alternative; records kept for SALSA compliance. **Equipment:** - **2-head washer machines** (e.g., from Vigo) — recommended as affordable entry-level automation; step up from hand pumps. - **Hand pumps** — very basic starting point for small operations. - **Drying racks/towers** — required if using water rinse. **Key considerations:** - Primary concern is particulate removal. - If bottling alcohol, avoid water rinses due to ABV dilution. - Larger operations favour air over water for efficiency and product integrity. - Document your process for compliance (e.g., SALSA records). Members offer links to specific suppliers on request.
What adhesive or attachment method works best for securing objects to bottles on a production line, while resisting temperature and humidity changes?
Members who've tackled this recommend a trade-off between permanence and production speed. **Glue (liquid adhesive)** holds better through temperature and humidity fluctuations than glue dots, but requires setting time, which can slow bottling-line integration. **Glue dots** are faster to apply but significantly less reliable for permanent attachment and can ping off under pressure (e.g. when sliding bottles into tight case dividers). **Self-adhesive strips added to the label by the manufacturer** is considered the better all-around solution by experienced members, avoiding the need to glue during production while maintaining durability. One member noted their whisky brand successfully glued a bell into the bottle punt by hand-applying glue as bottles left the line—though this was labour-intensive and the bell was partially protected by the punt design itself. If the attached object protrudes significantly or your case dividers are tight, glue dots are particularly risky as they can detach during handling.
How do you find and vet UK bottling and co-packing facilities for small batch production?
Finding a UK co-packer typically starts with personal introductions within the Kindred network. Members recommend reaching out directly to known facilities or asking for introductions via the group. Key suppliers and contacts mentioned: - **Columbo Group** — members have contacts here and can facilitate introductions - Direct outreach to individual members who manage co-packing relationships What you'll need ready: - **Volume requirements** — co-packers ask about expected batch sizes upfront - **Bottle format/size** — specify your exact packaging needs (e.g. wine spritz in specific bottle size) Approach: Members suggest emailing contacts directly or asking the group for an introduction. Several members indicated they have "a few options available depending on requirements," suggesting capacity varies by format and volume. Personal networks and word-of-mouth vetting appear to be the primary route—members will only recommend facilities they've worked with or trust.
What are the recommended UK contract packers and bottlers for different production volumes?
Members have shared experience with several contract packing and bottling operations across different capacity ranges. **Mid-to-large volume operators:** - **Contract Bottlers Glasgow** — confirmed smooth shipping and operation by members - **RSM Solutions** — recommended as an option - **Brittains** — listed as a recommended provider - **Mallows Distillery** (Cardiff) — described as good operators **Specialist operators for smaller pilot runs and craft scales:** - **Liquid Fusion Group** — recommended for batch, fill, pasteurisation and carbonation in glass bottles for non-alcoholic products. Contact: Ed@liquidfusiongroup.com. Described as "super useful and nice guy with tons of experience." Members report they handle multiple SKUs across a product range, though some have noted "sticking points" with certain formats. **High-volume minimum runs:** - One member's family operation can handle contract manufacture but requires 20,000L+ runs per SKU minimum, so only suitable for significant scale-up. **Key considerations:** Volume requirements vary significantly by provider—clarify your pilot run size (1–2k L initially, scaling to 5k+) before approaching, as some operators have minimum thresholds. Members recommend contacting providers directly to discuss format compatibility, as even experienced packers may have constraints with certain bottle formats or specifications.
What are the design specifications, costs, and practical considerations for using paper bottles for spirits?
Paper bottles for spirits are an emerging sustainable packaging option, but come with significant cost and operational considerations. Here's what members have learned: **Specifications & Performance** - **Frugal bottles** are the main provider members are using; they weigh just 81g empty and around 800g when filled (700ml), compared to 1–1.8kg for standard glass bottles - Design achieves full 360° label coverage - Manufacturing process is relatively simple, but lead times are long and often delayed **Costs & Minimum Orders** - Minimum order quantity is 5,000 units but becomes "much cheaper and easier" at 20,000+ units - Bottle cost: approximately £1 per unit - Filling cost: approximately £1 per unit (so ~£2 total landed cost) - Printing, assembly, and pouches are provided by Frugal and completed in the UK - Final unit costs are described as "pretty high" due to the way Frugal structures its business **Filling & Operations – Critical Challenges** - **DO NOT attempt to fill in-house.** Members who tried lost 6 months to trial-and-error; the pouch vacuum system and bottle-weighting requirements are complex - Filling is "a nightmare" and requires specialist equipment most producers don't have - **Recommended bottler: Silent Pool** — members report they have cracked the filling process and can provide filling pricing and guidance; other bottlers are being brought on board but availability is limited - Frugal's business model prioritises selling assembly machines rather than finished goods, which complicates the supply chain for smaller producers **Strategic Use** - Members recommend paper bottles for e-commerce and D2C channels (low carbon footprint, breakage not an issue) - On-trade and retail use is still developing; retailers may prefer bulk solutions or established formats - Paper bottles are lighter, reducing logistics carbon but are single-use **Caveats** - Lead times and delays are common; plan accordingly - Retailer pushback on alternative formats should be anticipated - Frugal is actively expanding its network of approved bottlers, so availability may improve
What are the cheapest ways to apply shrink tamper seals to 70cl bottles without buying expensive sealing equipment?
For low-volume operations (100–200 bottles per week), members skip dedicated sealers and use heat guns instead. **Heat gun approach** — A basic heat gun from Screwfix (around £20) works well for manual sealing. Lay the gun flat on a surface, twist the bottle to apply the shrink seal evenly. Requires gloves and practice to get consistent results, but members confirm it's "perfectly acceptable" for low volumes. Heat settings don't need to be as high as you might expect. **Paint stripping gun alternative** — One member reported success using a paint stripping gun from Aldi, laid flat while twisting the bottle. Similar principle to the heat gun but potentially cheaper depending on what's available locally. **Things to note** — A hair dryer won't produce uniform results (too weak/uneven). The heat gun method trades speed for capital cost, so it's viable only if you're doing small batches. Requires protective gloves and a learning curve to avoid over-heating the plastic or cork.
How should advance payments to bottlers be recorded in QuickBooks when stock hasn't been received yet?
When paying a bottler an advance (e.g. 50% upfront), you cannot match the payment directly to a PO in QuickBooks, as doing so would incorrectly increase your inventory before stock arrives. **The recommended approach:** - **Record the payment to the supplier account** — Allocate the advance payment in the banking tab to the supplier (bottler) without linking it to a PO. This creates a balance on the supplier's account. - **Match the PO when stock arrives** — Once production is complete and stock is received, match the PO to the invoice and reconcile it against the advance payment already recorded on the supplier account. - **Handle under/over-production** — If the bottler under-produces, any remaining balance sits on the supplier account and can be managed (credited, applied to future orders, or written off as needed). This workflow keeps your inventory accurate (only increasing when goods are actually received) while maintaining a clear audit trail of advances and final invoices.