Inside the Bottle Ep. 4 - The Client Journey

Over the three decades that Flavorman has been in business, we have garnered a solid industry reputation and clients worldwide. It is incredibly fulfilling to receive inquiries from those referred to us by other clients, contract manufacturers, suppliers, and beyond. Every day, we have the privilege of hearing success stories that emerged from The Beverage Campus. For this episode of Inside the Bottle, I’m excited to share one of these stories with you.

Last year, we received an inquiry from a group that attended the 5-Day Distillers Course at Moonshine University, our sister company. This team was passionate about the spirits industry and aspired to establish their own brand. But after learning the ins and outs of building a distillery, they felt inspired to create a line of ready-to-drink cocktails instead. Thus, a new project was born. Our Research & Development team collaborated with clients to learn their vision and build a customized development plan. They agreed on their first three products to begin formulating: a Margarita, a Whiskey Sour, and a Lemon Drop. The collaborative process ensured that qualities like sweetness, tartness, alcohol content, and beyond aligned seamlessly with the client’s desires.

First, we needed to decide on alcohol bases that suited the client’s standards. To their delight, Flavorman’s production department was already equipped with base spirits excellently suited for RTD Cocktails. Once the base was chosen and packaging considerations were reviewed, the client worked with our Flavor Laboratory to hand-pick the flavors that best encapsulated their vision. They were very pleased to acquire a trusted foundation for the main components of their products in such a short period. Using Flavorman as an ingredient supplier is highly beneficial for beverage companies, as we can ship base spirits and custom flavors directly to their chosen manufacturer – a one-stop shop!

After multiple rounds of sampling, feedback, and adjustments, the client excitedly signed off on three commercial formulations. From there, Flavorman’s scale-up team beganfinding the ideal contract manufacturer based on their chosen packaging, formulaspecifications, and area of distribution. We also needed to translate their formulations to the “manufacturer’s language.” When the client signs off on a formulation, they receive a single-serve recipe for their product, which must be adjusted for high-volume production. Our team takes that recipe and creates a manual for the manufacturer, letting them know the required ingredient inventory, theoretical yields of each batch, blending instructions, specifications, and much more. So, after selecting a satisfactory manufacturer and receiving their scaled-up formulas, the client’s products were officially ready for their first production run! 

As you can see, this client received industry education, developed three products, established an ingredient supplier, and scaled up their formulations all in one place—Flavorman. However, our work with this client lasts from Start Through Finish®, so the story does not end here. Stay tuned for the next episode of Inside the Bottle for the next phase of this client’s incredible journey!