What We Do
Drink Labs is a custom beverage development company. Specifically, it is built from a curated team of beverage scientists, food scientists, graphic designers and operations specialists. Together, we bring your beverage idea to life. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all formula, our team develops recipes that are unique to market, tailored to your target customer, flavor direction, and functional goals. From initial concept through formulation, branding, and production, we help you build a viable, store-ready beverage brand from the ground up — while you retain full ownership of the formula and brand we create together.
- Flavored Teas
- Flavored Waters
- Sodas
- Beer
- Wine
- Functional Drinks
- Energy Drinks
- Carbonated Drinks
- Fresh Juices
- Coffees
- Still Beverages
- Cold Pressed Juices
- Kombucha
- Sports Drinks
- Protein Drinks
- Workout Drinks
- Electrolyte Drinks
- Alcohol Beverages
- Hard Seltzer
- Cocktails
- Shots
- Powered Beverages
- Beverage Enhancers
Our Process
We’ve taken the entire development process and streamlined it for
efficiency. Here’s an overview of how it works:
We’ll kick off the process with an initial brief.
Our team of food scientists and chemists will source ingredients from respected ingredient vendors across the U.S.
Now that the ingredients are sourced, let us do our magic!
To find the ideal packaging options for your beverage, we take into consideration your formula and the processing required to give it a shelf life.
What inspires you? Our design team will lead a discussion on packaging and brand identity to determine the direction for design.
Why Drink Labs?
You own 100% of your formulation and brand assets.
Dedicated cross functional team to take your drink from ideation to mass production.
In-house lab with state-of-the-art technology.
Combined 50+ years of product development experience.
You own 100% of your formulation and brand assets.
Dedicated cross functional team to take your drink from ideation to mass production.
In-house lab with state-of-the art technology.
Combined 50+ years of product development experience.
Frequently
Asked Questions
What is Drink Labs?
Drink Labs is a full-service custom beverage development and manufacturing consultancy that helps entrepreneurs, startups, and established brands transform beverage ideas into market-ready products. From beverage formulation and ingredient sourcing to branding, packaging, and co-packer sourcing, we manage every stage of the product development journey across the United States.
Can Drink Labs help if I only have a beverage idea?
Absolutely. You don’t need an existing recipe or prior beverage industry experience to get started. Whether you have a rough concept or a fully developed vision, our team will guide you through formulation, ingredient sourcing, branding, packaging, and manufacturing to bring your beverage to life.
What types of beverages can you develop?
We develop a wide variety of beverages, including energy drinks, functional beverages, sports drinks, protein drinks, flavored waters, teas, coffees, juices, kombucha, electrolyte drinks, carbonated beverages, RTD beverages, hard seltzers, cocktails, alcoholic beverages, and more. Every formulation is customized to meet your brand goals, target audience, and product requirements.
What is Drink Labs’ beverage development process?
Our beverage development process is designed to take your idea from concept to commercial production. It begins with understanding your vision and product goals, followed by ingredient sourcing, custom formulation, branding and packaging design, operational planning, and finally connecting you with the right manufacturing partner for production. We remain involved throughout the process to help ensure a smooth product launch.
How long does the beverage development process take?
Every beverage project is unique, but most formulations are completed within 60 to 90 days, depending on product complexity, ingredient availability, testing requirements, and revisions. During your consultation, we’ll review your concept and provide a more accurate timeline based on your specific goals. contact us for detailed discussion about your idea.
Do I own the beverage formula after development?
Yes. Once your project is complete, you retain 100% ownership of your beverage formula, intellectual property, and any branding or packaging assets developed during the project. This gives you complete freedom to manufacture, scale, and grow your brand without restrictions.
Can you help with manufacturing after my formula is complete?
Yes. Once your formulation is finalized, we help identify the right manufacturing partner based on your beverage type, packaging requirements, production volume, and budget. We also assist with packaging selection, production planning, and co-packer sourcing to help move your product into commercial manufacturing.
Can you improve or commercialize an existing beverage recipe?
Absolutely. Whether you have a homemade recipe, an existing formula, or a product that needs improvement, we can optimize it for commercial production. Our team works to enhance taste, functionality, shelf stability, scalability, and manufacturing readiness while preserving your original product vision.
Do you provide branding and packaging design services?
Yes. Beyond beverage development, we offer complete branding and packaging support, including logo creation, label design, brand identity, packaging concepts, and production-ready artwork. Our goal is to create packaging that not only reflects your brand but also stands out on retail shelves and online marketplaces.
Who is Drink Labs’ typical client?
We work with beverage startups, entrepreneurs, established beverage brands, private label companies, restaurants, supplement brands, investors, and food & beverage businesses. Whether you’re launching your first product or expanding an existing product line, our team provides the technical expertise needed to bring your beverage to market.
How is Drink Labs different from a typical beverage manufacturer?
Unlike traditional beverage manufacturers that only produce finished formulas, Drink Labs serves as your end-to-end beverage development partner. We help create your formula, source ingredients, develop your brand, design your packaging, and connect you with trusted manufacturing partners—all while ensuring you retain full ownership of your formula and brand assets. This comprehensive approach simplifies the path from idea to a shelf-ready beverage.