Brandi B

Hi ADI, We are working with a contract distillery that has distilled our base product (bourbon), and last year quoted us a bottling labor fee of $2.57 per bottle. This is for a standard 750 mL bottle (about 3,000 bottles), with front label and back label machine applied and tamper hand applied. 

Once the liquid was ready and we shipped all our supplies, we were told that quote is expired and the new quote (one year later) is $6.70 per bottle. A cataclysmic price that would totally sink our business. 

I would love some perspective from this community -- is this some post-Covid pricing or are we being taken advantage of? Has anyone ever heard of labor costs this high? 

And does anyone have bottler recommendations in or between North Carolina and New Jersey, that might have more reasonable costs? We are ready to ship all our liquid, bottles, and bottling supplies, we just need a solution quickly as our product is due in the warehouse by the end of the month. 

Would love some perspective from this group. Thanks so much. 

@Foreshot it’s our understanding that formula approval isn’t required, though we are still researching that to be sure. We haven’t submitted our label for approval yet but do need to disclose it on the label. We’re still in early stages of confirming exact requirements.

JustAndy do you know if the staves from wineries were heat treated on all sides? Would you recommend more charring or would that be char overkill? 

JustAndy I will be heat treating the used barrel staves before finishing. Was planning to quarter the staves, sand the 3 non-heat treated sides, toast (3 hours at 420 degrees) but not char.

Thank you Thatch. 

Hello,

I am planning to finish bourbon barrels by daisy-chaining used barrel staves into the bunghole. 

Does anyone have recommendations for what type of material is safe to tie the staves together?

We were considering using braided fishing line. 

Thanks so much.

Man, you don’t know what you don’t know. Thank you SO much Silk City Distillers for this info. Calling all three. 

Hi, we are a small bourbon start-up distilling in North Carolina, seeking used Brandy barrels (just 1-2) or staves to introduce to our our barrels. Have struck out at most of the big Brandy distillers. Anyone have a lead or suggestion?