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.
Where can we source bulk ingredients like simple syrup and cacao nibs for drinks manufacturing?
Members recommend making simple syrup in-house when possible due to cost savings, but outsourcing is viable for scale. For bulk cacao nibs, the community is still exploring reliable suppliers with consistent pricing. **Simple Syrup:** - **William Fox UK** — can supply any quantity from 100ml to 1000L IBC containers. Contact George Tudor-Williams at George@williamfoxuk.com. Members note that in-house production is cheaper but space and time constraints often drive the decision to outsource. **Cacao Nibs:** - No specific supplier was named in the discussion for bulk cacao nibs (30–50kg range). One member asked for recommendations but responses were not captured in the excerpts. Members flagged "mad variations in price" as a concern when sourcing at this volume, suggesting price comparison across suppliers is essential.
What are the main bulk rum suppliers that can provide spirits in IBCs and tanker quantities?
Members recommended a small number of tested suppliers for bulk rum: - **Sheer's** (Holland) — described as "the best" and already in use by multiple members as their primary supplier - **Diamonds Distillers Ltd (DDL)** (Guyana) — bulk distill spirits for numerous clients; members suggest buying direct from them. Contact details available on request from community members. - **Distribucions Túnel** (https://distribucionstunel.com/distribucions-tunel-home/) — mentioned as a potential option worth investigating - **Marqt** (Amsterdam) — one member sought an introduction here, though specifics on their bulk offerings weren't detailed in discussion Members noted that Sheer's is their current go-to, with at least one member actively seeking backup options. For introductions to contacts at DDL or other suppliers, members are willing to make direct introductions via DM.