Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

How to Make Your Own Labels for Booze (and Why You Should)

Making your own wine, beer, or spirits labels is a fun and relatively straightforward way to personalize a few precious bottles. It continues to be my go-to option for a creative wedding gift – one that’s more likely to be enjoyed and cellared than placed in storage and forgotten about (here’s looking at you, gravy boat).

Mark Stock/The Manual

Legally, you can’t sell these custom labels, but you can pass them along as presents or keep them for your own enjoyment. Either way, they’re sure to impart some character and a great way to commemorate an occasion or even dress up a generic bottle of bottom shelf wine.

Recommended Videos

How to Create Your Own Labels

1. Soak

Unless you’re dealing with shiners (a bottle without a label), you’ll need to soak the preexisting labels off. Placing the bottles in a tub of water overnight generally gets the job done. If the labels are pesky and leave an adhesive trail, apply some Goo Gone and rub vigorously with a course towel or brush until all is removed. Dunk the bottle back in the water occasionally to rinse off the discarded label bits.

2. Design

Use basic graphic design software like Word or Pages to create a label. Go Photoshop if you’re feeling detail-oriented (and can do more than simply open the program). Be sure to take some measurements to find the right size as there’s a lot of variation in bottle size. I tend to work with old photos of the person I’m gifting to or eye-catching vintage maps of places that have some kind of relevance to me or the married-couple-to-be. A tremendous resource in this regard comes from the University of Texas; the school’s massive library of old-timey maps make for eye-catching labels.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

In terms of what else to include, I tend to include at least the alcohol percentage of the bottled product and the vintage, variety, and general region, if it’s a wine. Your new name of the product can be anything from the initials of the recipient to some fishing hole you’re particularly fond of — plenty of room for creative license here.

3. Print

Print the labels on adhesive paper (you can get 100 full-size sheets for around $18). Note that you may have to adjust your printer settings to accommodate the thicker sheets. If you lack a printer, most print shops and office supply stores can do it for you on the cheap. Just send them a digital version or pack it along on a thumb drive.

Luis Alvarez/Getty Images

4. Affix

Make sure your bottles are completely dry first. Then, pull the backing paper off of the sheets and affix them to the bottles. A few bubbles may arise beneath the labels but you should be able to manage these with a little pressure and a rub or two. My experience suggests the ink can fade a bit in the elements, especially excessive sunlight, so store them in a cool, dark spot when you can.

In retrospect, this should probably have been my side business, especially during the pre-Etsy era.

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
How to strain a cocktail (and why you should)
Learn this important technique for both shaken and stirred drinks
Bartender pouring drink through strainer

When you start out making cocktails, you'll find that many cocktail recipes are quite minimal. They tell you what ingredients you need, in what quantity, and give you basic instructions -- and that's it. They tend to assume you know all the key skills of cocktail making, and unlike many food recipes, they don't explain the necessary techniques. That can be frustrating if you're new to the hobby! But don't worry. The skills are generally pretty easy to learn as long as you have some guidance.

One instruction you'll often see in cocktail recipes is to strain the drink once you have shaken or stirred it. If you're not sure what that means or how to do it then this guide should help.
How to strain a cocktail
One of the key pieces of equipment you need to make cocktails is a hawthorne strainer. This is a round, flat piece of metal with a handle and a large spring curved around its edge. It should be just the right size to fit on top of your shaker tin.

Read more
How to make a French 75, a great cocktail you’re (probably) overlooking
The French 75 sounds cool, is cool, and tastes wonderful
Boozy bubbly lemon French 75 cocktail

When it comes to the cocktails that give a feeling of celebration, there's one iconic drink that doesn't get the recognition it deserves. Even among cocktail enthusiasts, the French 75 has been too often overlooked in favor of more punchy, spirit-forward drinks. And while there is absolutely a place for a bracing martini, there's also a time for something sparkling, refreshing, and just downright delicious that's easy for anyone to drink and enjoy. This classic drink is worthy of your attention, especially if you're in a celebratory mood.

In the simplest terms, the French 75 ingredients are gin, Champagne, lemon juice, and sugar. That's it. The sparkling wine is the main ingredient, making it an effervescent, delicious, sweet, citrus-filled experience. What's not to love?
The French 75 recipe

Read more
How to make pour-over coffee to complete your perfect morning routine
Follow this advice to craft delicious, rich pour-over coffee
Pour-over coffee setup

Coffee can be more than just that extra boost to kick-start your day. Often, it's also a ritual that many of us look forward to. While standard drip coffee is a great option in a pinch, if time allows, a pour-over is a divine treat to indulge in.

Also known as a hand brew, this method allows you to take control of all the variables of the brewing process to craft it precisely to your taste. Making your cup of coffee this way can be an almost meditative addition to your morning routine. Whether you’re just dipping your toes into the world of coffee or you’re a seasoned professional, read on to learn more about how to make pour-over coffee right from the comfort of your own home.
Must-have equipment to make pour-over coffee

Read more