Premium bottled cocktail producer Edmunds Cocktails has improved packaging presentation and consistency across its portfolio, following investment in a new heat tunnel from UK-based Sovereign Labelling Machines.

Edmunds Cocktails crafts ready-to-drink cocktails by skillfully combining the finest spirits, juices, syrups, and aromatics into cocktails that recreate a bar-quality experience without the fuss or need for specialist liqueurs. Edmunds partners with premium spirits manufacturers and sources ingredients from local suppliers wherever it can. All cocktails are then hand-blended, bottled, and labeled in-house, before being sold to restaurants, bars, and direct to consumers.

With demand for its bottled cocktails on the rise and a resulting increase in production volumes, the family-run business needed to improve its packaging process. A key part of the bottling of ready-to-drink cocktails is the application of shrink capsules to the bottle neck, which creates a professional-looking, tamper-evident seal once shrunk into place.

Paul Mayes, co-founder and operations director at Edmunds Cocktails, comments, “As production volumes increased, we identified a bottleneck in our existing capsule application process; as our previous machine struggled with speed and limited throughput and introduced avoidable inefficiencies.

“We invested in a dedicated solution from Sovereign Labelling Machines to streamline capsule application and shrinking, removing constraints from the line and supporting our ongoing scale-up.”

Sovereign Labelling Machines is a manufacturer of equipment for labeling and sleeving. From complex, multi-process integrated lines to desktop systems that support start-up and scale-up businesses alike, Sovereign works with brands and co-packers to optimize their labeling and packaging processes.

The solution delivered to Edmunds Cocktails by Sovereign is a tamper band shrink tunnel with a capacity of 60ppm. The heat tunnel is integrated into the beverage brand’s existing packaging line to allow the seamless bottling, labeling, and neck sleeving of bottles, ready for boxing and dispatch.

The heat tunnel is used to apply and shrink capsules across the entire bottled cocktail range and supports small and large production runs. It has “materially improved line flow,” according to Mayes, as well as providing consistent heat distribution that is delivering the premium finish required by the brand. Also, bottle neck clearance issues that were experienced previously have now been eliminated.

Mayes continues, “The solution has improved consistency and presentation of the finished product while also increasing throughput and reducing manual intervention. Lead times are shorter, changeovers are smoother, and overall line reliability has improved, all of which directly benefits our customers.”

Jordan Hynes, business development manager at Sovereign Labelling Machines, was excited to have the opportunity to support Edmunds Cocktails and its sleeving needs. He comments, “When smaller, independent brands are faced with labeling and sleeving challenges, this results in a material impact on their ability to serve customers effectively. Even something as ‘simple’ as a tamper-evident neck sleeve can have a big impact.

“For Edmunds Cocktails, these challenges threatened to curtail their growth trajectory, so it was essential for them to upgrade their packaging line capability.

“We are delighted that our solutions have allowed the brand to overcome neck sleeving challenges and get back to what they do best – mixing delicious ready-to-drink bottled cocktails that consumers can enjoy when they are at home, with friends, or when they are out.

“I look forward to seeing – and tasting – Edmunds Cocktails, complete with their high-quaity neck sleeves,” says Hynes.

Mayes was similarly pleased to have worked with Sovereign on this project. He says, “The machine build quality is excellent, and the installation and commissioning process was smooth. Service levels have been strong throughout, with clear communication and fast response times.

“Jordan in particular has been great to work with. He is knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely invested in making sure the solution worked perfectly for our operation.

“We’re extremely happy with the solution and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sovereign Labelling Machines to other growing drinks producers looking to scale efficiently.”