Real expertise. Proven results. Better drinks.
Independent drinks consultancy supporting start-ups and established brands from licensing and product development through to commercial production and launch.
From Licensing to Launch
Practical support from someone who has done it.
Guided Spirits helps drinks businesses develop commercially viable products, avoid costly mistakes and find the right route into production.
I work with entrepreneurs, start-ups, established drinks brands, hospitality businesses and manufacturers.
I can manage the full development process or step into a project where specialist help is needed.
My role is to get the product compliant, commercially sound and ready to manufacture. Once the product and production process are ready, I hand everything over so the client can take it to market.
TRUSTED BY INNOVATIVE BRANDS AROUND THE WORLD
Dai Wakely
Founder & Beverage Consultant
100+
BRANDS SUPPORTED
300
COMMERCIAL RECIPES CREATED
AWARD WINNING PRODUCTS
END TO END BEVERAGE CONSULTANCY
Save money & prevent expensive mistakes
- The wrong ingredient, packaging supplier or manufacturing partner can add unnecessary costs, create excessive minimum order quantities or leave a client with a product that is difficult to manufacture.
- Guided Spirits is independent and is not tied to one supplier or contract manufacturer.
- My recommendations are based on what the product and business actually need.
- That could mean finding a lower-MOQ supplier, choosing a more suitable manufacturer, simplifying the production process or identifying a problem before money is committed.
- The aim is simple. Develop the right product, make informed decisions and get it into production without avoidable cost or disruption.
WHAT I DO
How I can help...
Licensing & Compliance
Practical support with alcohol licensing, registrations, product classifications, label compliance and the regulatory requirements involved in developing and selling alcoholic drinks.
Full NPD & Recipe Development
Complete product development for spirits, liqueurs, ready-to-drink products and low and no-alcohol drinks.
This can cover everything from the initial brief and liquid concept through to samples, an approved recipe and a production-ready specification.
Dedicated NPD Studio
Products are developed and refined in my dedicated NPD studio.
This allows me to carry out bench trials, produce physical samples, run comparative tastings and refine recipes before the client commits to commercial production.
Reformulation & Troubleshooting
Improving existing products, resolving technical problems and benchmarking products against their competitors.
I can also adjust flavour, sweetness, colour, alcohol strength, stability, production method or cost.
Sourcing & Cost Control
Independent sourcing of liquids, ingredients, flavours, packaging and production services.
Making the right decisions at this stage can reduce minimum order quantities, control costs and prevent expensive mistakes later.
Manufacturing & Scale-Up
Finding a contract manufacturer that suits the product, budget, volumes, stage of development and long-term plans.
I can also support commercial scale-up, production planning, process development, technical handover and first production runs.