The Finishing Touch: Capsules, Caps and Wax for Your Bottles

Six glass spirit bottles finished with screw caps, black shrink capsules and sealing wax

The Finishing Touch: Capsules, Caps and Wax for Your Bottles

Choosing the right closure is the first step. The second, often overlooked, is the finish: everything that seals the bottle and completes its look once the closure is in place. For a distiller, this is not a cosmetic detail. The finish shows the customer that the bottle has never been opened, protects the closure in transit and is the first thing people notice on the shelf.

Here are the three most widely used finishes, how they work and when to choose them.

Pre-Threaded Aluminium Caps

Pre-threaded caps come with the thread already formed, so they are screwed on by hand without the need for a capping machine. This makes them the most practical solution for small production runs. They are available in black, silver and gold , to match the style of the bottle.

To complete the closure, a tuck-under tool is used: a hand tool that folds the lower edge of the cap under the ring on the bottle neck. The cap is held firmly in place and, the first time the bottle is opened, the band breaks, showing that it has been opened. The tool should be chosen in the size that matches the diameter of the cap.

Heat Shrink Capsules

Heat shrink capsules are PVC or PET sleeves that slip over the closure and the neck of the bottle. With heat, they shrink and grip the glass, covering the closure with a clean, even finish.

They are chosen by two measurements, diameter and height, given in millimetres. The diameter should be slightly larger than that of the closure, so the capsule slips on easily before it is shrunk. They are available in clear, to leave the closure on show, or in matt black, for a bolder, more elegant look.

To make the choice easier, many capsules carry the name of the bottle they are designed for, such as the Nocturne and Dorica ranges.

Sealing Wax

Sealing wax is the most artisan and distinctive finish. The neck of the bottle, already closed with a bar-top stopper, is dipped into melted wax, which forms a solid seal as it cools.

It comes in 1kg bars, each enough for around 100 bottles, in a range of colours including gold, black, white, silver and bordeaux. It is the ideal choice for limited editions, craft liqueurs and gift bottles, where the handmade gesture becomes part of the product's value.

Which Finish for Which Bottle?

There is no single best finish: it depends on the product and how you want to present it.

Regular production with a screw cap: a pre-threaded cap secured with the tuck-under tool, practical and neat.
Bottles with a bar-top stopper: a heat shrink capsule, which protects the stopper and shows the bottle is intact.
Special editions and gifts: sealing wax, for a handcrafted, distinctive look.

Whatever you choose, the advice is the same: test the finish on one bottle before ordering for the whole production run, to check the sizes and the result.

Ready to Finish Your Bottles?

A good finish protects the closure, reassures the buyer and makes all the difference on the shelf. Explore the full range of closures and accessories.

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