Stop refills, fakes and diversion in premium wines and spirits in India
High-value bottles are counterfeited, refilled and diverted across borders, and India's premium spirits market is a favoured destination. SNOWLEOPARD® etches an invisible code into the glass, closure or capsule so a bottle can be authenticated at the table in seconds.
Why premium drinks are a primary counterfeit target
Empty authentic bottles carry resale value, closures are re-sealed, and secondary markets rarely have the tools to verify provenance.
Genuine bottle, fake contents
Authentic empties are collected, refilled with inferior product and re-sealed — every visible security feature stays intact.
Grey-market movement
Allocated and duty-differentiated stock is diverted between markets, eroding pricing and distributor agreements.
Cloned labels and capsules
Print, foil and hologram elements are reproduced convincingly enough to pass at retail and auction.
Etched into the bottle itself, not onto a sticker
Because the code is inscribed submicron into the material, it survives handling, chilling, condensation and ice buckets — and cannot be peeled off and reapplied.
- Bottle shoulder, base or punt
- Screw caps, crowns and capsules
- Cork closures and tamper bands
- Neck and body label stock
- Gift tins, tubes and outer cartons
A sommelier's breath is the only reader required
No app, scanner or connectivity — critical in cellars, on-premise venues and customs halls where devices are impractical.
Typical items protected in wines & spirits
Wines & Spirits questions
How is a wines & spirits item authenticated in the field?
A single breath of warm vapour mist reveals the hidden security image, which disappears in seconds as moisture evaporates. No instruments, tools, lights or apps are needed.
Will the code affect our product or packaging design?
No. The code is invisible and inscribed submicron into the material itself, so artwork, finish and regulatory dossiers stay exactly as they are.
Can counterfeiters copy the mark?
There is nothing on the surface to scan or photograph. The microstructure code appears only momentarily under vapour and is etched into the substrate, making replication virtually impossible.
How does this fit alongside our existing serialisation?
SNOWLEOPARD® sits at the covert Level 2 tier and layers beneath overt features and forensic markers, strengthening rather than replacing existing QR, barcode or track-and-trace programs.
How is it integrated into production?
Desktop-size systems run inline or off-line, and high-speed web-film systems are fully customisable. Equipment runs 24/7 on ordinary electricity with no inks, lasers, solvents or consumables.
Other industries we protect
Bring us your toughest challenges.
SNOWLEOPARD® is available exclusively from The Sabreen Group. Call us to discuss your application — pro bono.
Request your free quote
Scott Sabreen — President and Chief Engineer, with over 30 years of expertise. Contact us today to discuss your application and SABREEN solutions free of charge and with no obligation. Bring us your most difficult challenges.
Phone: +1 972-820-6777
