The Best Rum Distillery Experiences in the UK
Ten years ago, the idea of a "British rum distillery experience" would have seemed almost paradoxical. Rum was Caribbean. Britain drank it; it didn't make it. But the craft spirits revolution of the 2010s changed all of that, and today there is a genuinely exciting cohort of UK rum producers making world-class spirits and welcoming visitors to see exactly how they do it.
We're obviously one of them - and we'll make our case below. But this is a guide to the best rum distillery experiences in the UK worth booking, wherever you happen to be.
Salford Distillery – Manchester
We'll start at home. The Dirty Old Town Distillery is located in Arch 33 on Viaduct Street, Salford - five minutes from Manchester city centre, tucked beneath the Victorian railway arches that frame the southern edge of the city. It's a working production distillery and a bar and rum shop, and the tour experience is built around a genuine understanding of what makes Salford Rum different.
The 75-minute Distillery Tour and Rum Tasting covers the history of rum, its connection to Salford Docks and the Caribbean spice trade, and the production process from fermentation to bottling. You'll taste four expressions from the current range and enjoy two expertly mixed cocktails. The experience is intimate - group sizes are kept small - and consistently rated as one of Manchester's best things to do on TripAdvisor.
Private hire, hen and stag groups, and corporate bookings are all catered for, and the Cocktail Club experience is available for groups who want to go further. Book your experience here.
Libations Rum – Leeds
Yorkshire's first rum distillery and blending house, Libations operates from a unit in Armley, Leeds, and has built a strong reputation for genuinely interesting rum. Their distillery tour is rated the top tour and activity in Leeds on TripAdvisor, and includes a visit to their "Warm Room" - a humidity-controlled ageing environment unique in the UK - alongside tastings of their award-winning range. Groups are welcomed with cocktails on arrival. For anyone based in Yorkshire or visiting Leeds, it's an excellent afternoon.
DropWorks Rum – Welbeck, Nottinghamshire
DropWorks claims the title of the largest rum distillery in Europe and is located on the beautiful Welbeck Estate in Nottinghamshire - a destination in itself, with galleries, an award-winning farm shop, a brewery and more all on site. Their distillery tour won the Nottinghamshire Experience of the Year award in 2025 and is consistently praised for the knowledge and warmth of the host, Darren. If you're travelling to see a distillery and want to make a full day of it, the setting alone makes DropWorks worth the drive.
Two Drifters Distillery – Exeter
Two Drifters is one of the most sustainably minded distilleries in the UK, producing carbon-negative rum using entirely renewable energy and UK-grown sugarcane. Located in Exeter and a short walk from the airport, their Signature Distillery Tour runs one Saturday per month (book well in advance - they sell out regularly) and includes a 45-minute tour of the production facility followed by a tasting flight at their rum bar, which is constructed from a fallen tree sourced locally. Worth the journey for the story alone.
Shakespeare Distillery – Stratford-upon-Avon
Based in Stratford-upon-Avon - in a timber-framed building that was once home to Shakespeare's daughter Judith - Shakespeare Distillery offers both a distillery tour and an immersive Rum School experience in which you distil your own small-batch rum using a personal copper still and a selection of botanicals. It's a more hands-on experience than a standard tour and is particularly popular for group bookings and special occasions. The building alone is extraordinary.
Goldstone Rum – Sussex
A small-batch craft producer in East Sussex, Goldstone is one of a new generation of UK rum makers focused on scratch production - distilling entirely from raw ingredients rather than using bought-in Caribbean spirit. Their monthly distillery tours are led by the master distiller and include a tasting session that walks you through the flavour profiles of each expression in the range. Group bookings are available and the distillery can accommodate up to 30 people for private events.
Tips for Booking a Rum Distillery Experience
Book in advance. Most distillery tours operate with small group sizes to maintain quality, and popular dates fill quickly - particularly weekends and the run-up to Christmas. Give yourself at least two weeks' notice for a standard booking and considerably more for group bookings.
Arrange transport. Distillery experiences involve alcohol tastings. Most distilleries are accessible by public transport - our own is a ten-minute walk from Manchester Victoria - but it's worth checking before you travel.
Buy something at the end. Most distilleries sell directly from their shop and offer exclusive expressions or pricing that isn't available online. It's also the most direct way to support independent producers.
Consider a gift voucher. Distillery experiences are some of the most consistently well-received gifts you can give to a drinks enthusiast. All of the distilleries listed here offer gift vouchers - our own are available directly from the bookings page.
Book the Salford Experience
Our Distillery Tour and Rum Tasting starts from £35 per person and runs throughout the week. For groups of six or more, private hire options are available - contact us directly to discuss. Gift vouchers are available year-round and make an excellent present for anyone with an interest in craft spirits or the story of Manchester and Salford.
Can't make it in person? Shop the full Salford Distillery range online with free UK delivery on orders over £100.
