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.
What are the best logistics providers for shipping alcohol internationally to EU destinations like Monaco?
Members have used a small number of tried providers for EU alcohol shipments. For smaller quantities, **Royal Mail** (posting from the UK as a gift, single bottles) and **Royal Mail from Jersey** (duty paid) have both worked. For larger volumes from UK bonded stock, **Seabrooke** has been used successfully. Members also recommend reaching out directly to the community—one member offered direct assistance via rdarfi@rivieradrinks.co.uk for bespoke logistics support. The key variables are shipment size and whether stock is bonded; members suggest clarifying your volume requirements before selecting a provider.
What should you look for when finding a co-packer or canner, and which suppliers do members recommend?
When sourcing a co-packer or canner, define your specific technical requirements upfront—minimum order quantities, carbonation/nitrogen needs, pasteurisation, blending/filtering capabilities, and labelling preferences—then reach out to vetted suppliers in the community. Members recommend: - **Bottled & Canned** (shaun@bottledandcanned.co.uk) — praised for being great to work with and capable of handling non-carbonated products with nitrogen dosing, pasteurisation, mixing/blending, filtering, and hibiscus-compatible work - **Drayhorse Canning** — can handle approximately 14mm cans annually with competitive pricing; contact nate@drifterspirits.com to set up an introductory call with their team Key considerations members highlighted: clarify your MOQ (one member sought 1,000-litre minimums), confirm pasteurisation capability, ensure they can handle specialty ingredients like hibiscus, and verify label-over-can options if needed. Members suggested reaching out directly to suppliers with a detailed technical spec sheet rather than searching broadly, as capabilities vary significantly.