How to Create a Custom Cocktail Serve: MOQs by Material Explained

Thinking about creating a custom cocktail serve for your venue, brand, or menu launch — but not sure where to begin? You’re not alone. One of the most common hurdles when developing a unique cocktail vessel is understanding which materials are suitable for your idea and what the Minimum Order Quantities (MOQs) are for each.

In this guide, we break down the most popular materials used in custom barware production and outline what kind of quantities and costs you should expect. Whether you're dreaming of a one-off sculptural statement or scaling up for a national rollout, there's a production route for every project.

1. Wood: Low MOQ, High Versatility

Wood is a beautiful and flexible material to work with. It can be crafted into presentation boxes, trays, flight boards, and more. The finish options range from rustic to refined, making it ideal for themed venues or theatrical drink presentations.

• Typical MOQ: 1–10 units

• Best For: Low-volume custom builds, flight serves, luxury boxes

• Considerations: Handcrafted nature can limit intricate shapes

• Pros: Natural look, no large-scale tooling required

Wood is ideal if you’re after a small run or one-off items. CNC-machined components may bring MOQs up slightly, but it’s still very accessible compared to other materials.

2. Found Objects: Creative, One-of-a-Kind Serves

Sometimes the best ideas start with an unexpected object — like a hot air balloon, toy airplane, or vintage lantern. We often help clients adapt found items into cocktail serves by modifying or embellishing them.

• Typical MOQ: 1–4 units

• Best For: Showstopping signature serves

• Considerations: First prototype may take longer to develop

• Pros: Super low MOQ, highly creative possibilities

This route is perfect for venues looking to make a bold statement with a limited-edition or signature drink.

3. Fibreglass: Sculptural, Durable, and Bold

Fibreglass is commonly used for large, dramatic cocktail vessels — especially for shared drinks or centerpiece serves. It’s highly durable and can be finished to look smooth, metallic, or even textured like wood or stone.

• Typical MOQ: 6+ units

• Best For: Large-format sharers, themed bars, sculptural pieces

• Considerations: Requires a mold and inner food-safe insert

• Pros: Nearly unlimited shape potential, strong and long-lasting

Though not food-safe on its own, a liner can be added to meet safety standards.

4. Ceramic: Classic, Custom, and Food-Safe

Ceramic cocktail mugs (like Tiki mugs) are a popular option for bars looking for a distinctive look. They’re fully food-safe, highly customisable, and offer excellent durability over time.

• Typical MOQ: 1–100+ units

• Best For: Custom cocktail vessels, Tiki bars, collectible drinkware

• Considerations: Mold setup costs apply

• Pros: 100% food-safe, highly decorative, lasting durability

While many potteries require a 1,000-unit MOQ, we offer custom ceramic production with no minimums, though 100+ units is most cost-effective due to setup expenses.

5. Metal: Premium and Durable

Metal has a premium feel and performs incredibly well in high-traffic bars. It’s ideal for ice buckets, cocktail cups, jiggers, or large-format vessels, and can be engraved or shaped into custom forms.

• Typical MOQ: 10–300+ units

• Best For: Long-lasting, upscale barware

• Considerations: Higher tooling costs for custom shaping

• Pros: Extremely durable, elegant finish options

For simple shapes, 10 pieces may be enough. For stamped or machined items (like cups or shakers), expect 300+ as a more realistic starting point.

6. Plastic (Multi-Use): Cost-Effective for High Volume

Multi-use plastic is ideal for festivals, outdoor events, or high-volume venues where durability and price matter. It’s dishwasher-safe, custom-moldable, and can be made in full colour with branded details.

• Typical MOQ: 5,000+ units

• Best For: High-volume service, outdoor bars, branded campaigns

• Considerations: Large-scale machinery and tooling costs apply

• Pros: Lightweight, shatterproof, low cost per unit

Plastic offers excellent value when ordering at scale and is a great alternative to single-use disposables.

7. Glass: Premium but High MOQ

Creating a custom glass cocktail vessel is the dream for many brands — but glass manufacturing requires significant investment and large-scale production runs due to the complexity of tooling and batch processes.

• Typical MOQ: 25,000+ units

• Best For: Mass production, global rollouts, commercial drinkware

• Considerations: High MOQs and tooling costs

• Pros: Elegant, traditional material that enhances drink presentation

Glass is best suited for brands ready to commit to large volumes or establish a retail product.

Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right Material for Your Project

As you can see, there's a wide range of custom cocktail serve options available — from one-off handmade wooden pieces to large-scale glass production. The right material for you depends on:

• Your budget

• Your desired quantity

• Your timeline

• Your creative vision

Need help deciding? We specialise in guiding clients through this process — from material selection and prototyping to full production and delivery.

Get in touch to explore what’s possible and bring your custom cocktail serve to life.