Premium spirits are a target for two kinds of fraud: fully counterfeit bottles, and genuine bottles refilled with something cheaper. In both cases, the packaging is what sells the fake. Protecting the closure and the label makes both much harder.
Protect the closure
A refilled bottle has to be opened and closed again. Security features over the closure make that visible:
- Tamper seal over the cork or cap, running down onto the neck, so opening the bottle breaks or lifts it.
- Neck bands and shrink bands that must be torn to open.
- Holographic strips that are hard to reproduce, so a replacement seal is obvious.
Protect the label
- Custom holographic or foil elements that change with the angle.
- Micro text hidden in the label art.
- Serialized codes so each bottle can be checked, and so bottles found in the wrong market show where they leaked.
Keep it premium
A security seal on a spirits bottle should look like it belongs there. Gold or silver foil, a custom hologram with your mark, or a subtle band in your brand colors can add to the bottle’s shelf presence while it protects it.
Where to start
Begin with the bottles most at risk: your most expensive expressions, limited releases, and products sold in markets where fakes are common. A seal over the closure is usually the first step. Serialization and custom holograms come next as the program grows.
See the spirits seal and other features on our security features page, or send a brief.
