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.
How are UK spirits and brewing founders responding to rising material and energy costs, and what pricing strategies are they using?
Rising input costs across the supply chain are forcing producers to pass increases to consumers to maintain margins. Cost pressures are significant and widespread. **Cost increases members reported:** - Glass up 11% (though some suppliers reported energy-related hikes up to 25% on their own costs) - Cardboard rising sharply - Botanicals and juniper up substantially (juniper prices now approaching double what they were 5 years ago) - Energy bills up nearly 30% - Sealing wax and other ancillary materials all rising - Shipping costs up across the board **Pricing response:** - **Major brewers** raising prices by 5% in Q1, with expectations of another 5% rise mid-2022 - Members acknowledge they must pass some costs onto consumers or margins will be unsustainable **Key caveat:** The member consensus is that cost inflation is broad-based and severe ("everything from sealing wax to botanicals and blinking cardboard is well up"), making it difficult to absorb costs without retail price increases. Members are watchful about further energy price increases, which remain uncertain.
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.
What are the pros and cons of real cork versus alternative materials for bottle toppers, and which suppliers do members use?
Members use a mix of real cork and alternatives, with most emphasizing that quality and supplier choice matter significantly. **Real cork:** - **Berlin Packaging** — supplies agglomerated cork toppers; members report occasional bad batches but generally acceptable quality - **Rankin** — supplies sustainably managed, higher-quality cork; laser-etched wood options available; described as reliable with very few problems when you "pay for good cork" - Quality varies: some members experienced frequent breakage and frustration with cheaper cork; investing in better-grade cork reduces problems **Alternative materials:** - Some members have moved away from real cork to mechanically-applied alternatives (specific material not detailed in discussion) - Mechanically applied toppers appear to address breakage issues members experienced with real cork **Cap suppliers:** - **Bostocap** — mentioned as a contact for simple GPI metal caps **Key takeaway:** The difference between problem cork and reliable cork is often about paying for quality and choosing a reputable supplier. Members who invested in sustainably managed, higher-grade cork reported fewer issues.