What is a 100ml can?

A 100ml can is a small-format can that holds approximately 3.38 fluid ounces of liquid. It is made of three parts: top and bottom aluminum lids and a center-formed body that is printed and welded. It looks like an aluminum can for the most part but has a separate bottom lid. The stronger metallic structure means the can has its own structure and does not need to be carbonated. It is also able to hold higher alcohols and acids due to the liner and body strength. 

​

Why use a 100ml can for cocktails?

The 100ml can has become one of the most compelling formats for premium single-serve, high-proof cocktails. Many spirit-forward cocktails are naturally smaller and stronger than standard canned beverages, so the 100ml can allows brands to package a more bar-style serving. The can material and liner are also important for safely holding high proof cocktails. 

​

This format is especially useful for Old Fashioneds, Martinis, Espresso Martinis, Margaritas, Cosmopolitans, Negroni-style cocktails, cream-based cocktails, and other premium RTD products where the goal is quality, convenience, and a proper cocktail serving size.

 

What are the benefits of 100ml Cans?

The 100ml can has emerged as one of the most attractive options for packaging premium, single-serve, high-proof cocktails. Many cocktails that emphasize spirits are naturally smaller and stronger than typical canned beverages, which makes the 100ml can an ideal choice for brands seeking to deliver a bar-style serving experience. In addition, the can material and liner make canning high-proof cocktails possible – as opposed to aluminum cans, which can’t hold high proof liquid.

 

With a 100ml can holding 3.4oz, it’s the perfect size for cocktails like an Old Fashioned, which are generally served as a 3oz. cocktail. 

​

Are 100ml cans good for high-proof cocktails?

Yes. These cans are specifically well suited for high-proof cocktails, high-acid cocktails, and even full-proof spirits. We have used these cans for products up to 42% alcohol.

 

The can format and liner options are a major reason this package works for spirits-based and high-proof products. Unlike many standard aluminum beverage cans, these cans can be selected with liners that are appropriate for higher alcohol and higher acid applications.

 

Can 100ml cans be used for spirits or straight liquor?

Yes. These cans can be used for spirits, spirits-based beverages, and straight liquor products. The exact packaging setup should be selected based on the product, alcohol level, acidity, and intended use, but this can format is very well suited for many spirits applications.

 

Are 100ml cans better than mini liquor bottles?

For many products, yes. A 100ml can is a better option than a mini liquor bottle because it is lightweight, highly recyclable, and does not require a separate pressure-sensitive label or mixed-material decoration.

Many mini liquor bottles use one material for the bottle and another material for the label. Because the package is so small, those materials are rarely separated by the consumer before recycling. A direct-printed can is cleaner from a recycling standpoint, easier to merchandise, and more efficient for multipacks, sampling, events, and premium single-serve cocktails.

 

What types of drinks work well in 100ml cans?

100ml cans work well for:

• High-proof RTD cocktails

• Spirits-based cocktails

• Straight spirits

• Cream-based cocktails

• Coffee cocktails

• Liqueurs and aperitifs

• Margarita, Martini, Old Fashioned, Espresso Martini, and Negroni-style products

• High-acid cocktails

• THC or hemp-derived beverages where legally permitted

• Sampling programs

• Gift packs and variety packs

• Premium single-serve cocktail formats

​

What is 100ml can co-packing?

100ml can co-packing is the process of producing and packaging a beverage into 100ml cans for another brand. Tiny Can Co. can help with formulation, ingredient sourcing, can and packaging sourcing, filling, tunnel pasteurization when needed, secondary packaging, and production coordination.

​

Do I need a finished formula before contacting Tiny Can Co.?

No. Some customers come to us with a finished formula, while others come with only an idea or early sample. Tiny Can Co. can help develop, review, and prepare the formula for production.

 

We can also help with ingredient sourcing, packaging selection, production planning, and determining the best can and packaging format for your product.

​

Can Tiny Can Co. help formulate a canned cocktail?

Yes. Tiny Can Co. can help formulate and prepare canned cocktails for production. This includes high-proof cocktails, cream-based cocktails, coffee cocktails, spirits-based RTDs, high-acid cocktails, and small-format beverage concepts.

 

We’ve made a lot of cocktails over the years and have the expertise to help balance flavor, alcohol, sweetness, acidity, texture, stability, along with ingredient sourcing and understanding production requirements.

​

Can 100ml cans be non-carbonated?

Yes. Many of the best 100ml cocktail formats are still filled rather than carbonated. This works especially well for spirit-forward cocktails, cream-based cocktails, coffee cocktails, Martinis, Old Fashioneds, and other premium bar-style drinks.

​

Can you put an Old Fashioned in a 100ml can?

Yes. An Old Fashioned is one of the strongest use cases for a 100ml can because it is naturally spirit-forward, compact, and premium. The 100ml format allows the product to stay closer to a true cocktail serving size.

​

Can you put an Espresso Martini in a 100ml can?

Yes. Espresso Martinis work well in 100ml cans, especially when the product is cream-based or designed as a premium single-serve cocktail. Tiny Can Co. can help with coffee cocktail formulation, texture, stability, sweetness balance, and production planning.

​

Can you put a Margarita in a 100ml can?

Yes. Margaritas = work very well in 100ml cans, especially premium, spirit-forward margaritas. The can format is also well suited to high-acid ingredients commonly used in margaritas and citrus-based cocktails.

​

Can cream-based cocktails go into 100ml cans?

Yes. Tiny Can Co. produces and works with many cream-based cocktails. We specialize in the formulation, balance, stability, and production needs of cream-based canned cocktails.

​

Cream-based cocktails require more formulation experience than many clear cocktails, but they can work very well in this format when properly developed and processed.

​

Can coffee cocktails go into 100ml cans?

Yes. Coffee cocktails can go into 100ml cans, especially when cream is involved. Tiny Can Co. can help with the formulation, flavor balance, texture, sweetness, coffee character, and stability of coffee-based canned cocktails.

​

Can THC or hemp-derived beverages use small cans?

Yes. Small cans can be a strong format for THC or hemp-derived beverages where legally permitted. Tiny Can Co. can also support tunnel pasteurization and other preservation methods for these products.

 

These cans can be a good fit for THC and hemp-derived beverages because the liner options can be stronger and more appropriate than many standard aluminum beverage can liners.

​

What lid types are available for 100ml cans?

100ml cans are available with pull-tab lids and stay-on-tab / SOT lids.

​

Can 100ml cans have gold lids?

Yes. Gold pull-tab lids may be available and can give the product a more premium appearance. Lid availability should be reviewed early in the project so it can be coordinated with the production and packaging plan.

​

Can 100ml cans be custom printed?

Yes. Direct printing is the preferred decoration method for 100ml cans. For most projects, direct printing is the best combination of appearance, cost efficiency, production efficiency, and recyclability.

​

Can 100ml cans be sleeved?

We do not recommend sleeving these cans. Sleeving can be difficult on this format and can create recycling issues because the consumer would need to separate the sleeve from the can.

 

For the projects we work on, direct printing on the can is usually the best method. It is typically more cost-effective, looks better, runs better in production, and is better for recycling than a separate sleeve.

​

Can Tiny Can Co. help with packaging design?

Yes. Tiny Can Co. can help with all aspects of packaging for small-format cans. We have many different box formats that make sense for these cans, including some existing formats with established guidelines.

 

Using an existing packaging structure can often save cost and speed up the process of getting your product to market. Our packaging pricing is also very competitive and is often one of the strongest parts of the overall project economics.

Ask us about the various carton, tray, multipack, gift pack, and retail packaging formats available for 100ml cans.

​

Can 100ml cans be packed in four-packs?

Yes. 100ml cans can be packed in four-packs, trays, cartons, variety packs, gift packs, and other retail-ready formats. Four-packs and variety packs are especially useful for premium cocktails, samplers, and multi-flavor launches.

​

What makes these cans different from standard 12 oz aluminum cans?

Standard 12 oz beverage cans are aluminum cans with aluminum can liners. Those liners can work for many beer, seltzer, soda, and lower-alcohol products, but they are not usually appropriate for higher-proof spirits or aggressive high-acid cocktail formulas.

 

With higher alcohol levels, the alcohol can attack or “chew through” certain aluminum can liners. This can eventually create problems with the can itself, including corrosion, flavor issues, or leaks.

 

The small 100ml cans used by Tiny Can Co. are different. These cans can use liner systems that are better suited for high-proof cocktails, full-proof spirits, and high-acid beverages. Similar can styles are commonly used for acidic products such as pineapple juice, which demonstrates why this package format is useful for challenging beverage formulas.

​

Can high-acid beverages go into 100ml cans?

Yes. These cans are well suited for many high-acid beverages and cocktails. Products like pineapple juice are commonly packed in similar can formats, which shows why this style of can is appropriate for acidic products.

Tiny Can Co. can help select can liner options based on your specific product. We have existing liner options that work well for high-proof cocktails and high-acid cocktails.

​

What is can liner compatibility?

Can liner compatibility refers to whether the inside coating of the can is appropriate for the beverage. Alcohol level, acidity, ingredients, carbonation, and storage conditions all matter.

​

Tiny Can Co. works with can and liner options that can be selected specifically for high-proof cocktails, high-acid cocktails, full-proof spirits, and other demanding beverage formats.

​

Do canned cocktails need preservatives?

For the most part, cocktails over 14% alcohol do not need preservatives because the alcohol level provides enough preservation for many formulas. However, the ingredients still matter, and Tiny Can Co. can help review the product to confirm the best path.

​

For cocktails below that alcohol level, Tiny Can Co. can tunnel pasteurize the product or review preservative options if needed.

​

Can canned cocktails be tunnel pasteurized?

Yes. These cans can be tunnel pasteurized. Tiny Can Co. offers tunnel pasteurization for customers with alcoholic or lower-alcohol products who want to avoid preservatives or improve product stability.

 

Tunnel pasteurization can be especially useful for certain cocktails, cream-based beverages, coffee cocktails, THC or hemp-derived beverages, and other products that need additional stability support.

​

Do I need an alcohol license to launch a canned cocktail brand?

No. Customers do not need to have their own alcohol production license to work with Tiny Can Co. We have the proper licensing and permits required for production.

We also have wholesale permits, so we can discuss warehousing, delivery to distribution, order management, and long-term off-site storage of packaging materials if you would like us to support those parts of the project.

​

Can a spirits brand use Tiny Can Co. for a new RTD product?

Absolutely. That is exactly what Tiny Can Co. is built for. We help spirits brands and beverage companies develop, produce, and launch ready-to-drink cocktail products quickly and with confidence.

We can help with formulation, small-format can selection, packaging, production planning, and getting the product into a format that makes sense for retail, events, hospitality, distribution, or direct customer programs.

​

Can Tiny Can Co. help with small runs?

Yes. Tiny Can Co. is very good at handling smaller runs, test runs, and early production runs. For many projects, one tote, or approximately 500 gallons, is an ideal batch size for these cans and provides better production efficiency.

We can review smaller or larger project needs based on the product, formula, packaging, and launch goals.

​

How much does 100ml can co-packing cost?

The cost depends on the product formula, alcohol type, ingredients, can selection, printing, packaging format, batch size, tunnel pasteurization needs, and production requirements.

 

Most finished products range between $1.25 to $1.85 per can. This cost range is a fully finish product including: liquid ingredients, all can costs, all co-packing costs, and all final packaging. These cost vary based on production quantities, cost of ingredients, and how the cans are packaged. 

​

What are the minimum order quantities/MOQ?

Cans are generally a higher quantity entry package since the cans need to be printed when they are produced.

 

We can produce four pallets of one SKU of cans, which is 48,000 cans. 

A 20 foot container of cans is between 120,000 and 140,000 Cans up to three SKUs with six color process

A 40 foot container of cans is between 240,000 and 250,000 cans up to six SKUs with six color process.

​

Not all cans and packaging have to be co-packed within one run, cans and packaging materials can be stored for future runs. This reduces the amount of first cost.

​

What information do I need before requesting a quote?

The most helpful information includes:

• Product type

• Target alcohol percentage

• Formula status

• Still or carbonated

• Desired can size

• Estimated production quantity

• Packaging format

• Desired launch timeline

• Whether you need formulation help

• Whether you need can or packaging sourcing

• Whether you need warehousing or delivery support

If you do not know all of these details yet, Tiny Can Co. can help you determine what needs to be answered before production.

 

How do I start a 100ml can project?

Start by contacting Tiny Can Co. with your product idea, formula status, target alcohol level, desired can size, approximate quantity, and packaging goals.

 

From there, we can help determine the right next steps for formulation, can selection, packaging, production, tunnel pasteurization if needed, and launch planning.