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 I find suppliers for custom colour-matched wax seals for bottles?
Members have identified two suppliers offering custom colour-matched wax seals. **British Wax** — described as "really good", with a minimum order of 25kg for custom colours. **Bruni Erben** — also offers colour-matched wax. However, members strongly cautioned against Bruni Erben due to serious reliability issues: lead times for reordering existing caps are 16–18 weeks, new projects for caps/PVCs are nearly 24 weeks, and they have been inconsistent about communicating actual production schedules (one member reported being told delivery wasn't possible until May when Q1 production didn't happen in January). Members noted that Bruni Erben "consistently lie about lead times and production capability". If pursuing custom wax seals, confirm lead times in writing and build in substantial buffer time.
What are the practical options for applying decorative elements like wax seals and glued ornaments to curved glass bottles?
Members have identified two main approaches: adhesive solutions and direct application via specialist contacts. **Adhesive/sticker approach:** - **Oakbank Products** — supply self-adhesive wax seals that look like traditional wax seals but stick directly to glass, eliminating the need to apply actual wax to curved surfaces. **Direct application via specialists:** - **Andy Mallows** — recommended as someone with experience gluing decorative items directly onto bottles; members suggest reaching out directly for bespoke decoration work. **Key considerations:** Members noted that standard distributors may not have the capability to handle bottle decoration efficiently, so specialist contacts or dedicated co-packers are the better route. The self-adhesive wax seal option from Oakbank Products sidesteps the technical difficulty of applying wax seals to curved glass.