Knowledge Base

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.

Logistics & Export4 discussions

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.

#logistics#eu-export#alcohol-shipping#supplier-recommendations
Production & Packaging2 discussions

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.

#co-packing#canning#production#supplier-recommendations