DropWorks brings British rum to The Ivy Nottingham
English distillery DropWorks has collaborated with The Ivy Nottingham Brasserie to explore British-made rums and enhance their flavours in festive cocktails.
The Ivy Nottingham Brasserie, the first East Midlands venue for The Ivy Collection, opened its doors on 14 December.
To celebrate the opening, DropWorks collaborated with the venue to host a session focused on how the distillery creates its signature rums: Barrel Drop, Spice Drop, and Clear Drop. The session included tasting notes for each rum and recommendations on the best ways to serve them, particularly during the festive season.
The collaboration, led by Chris Bryant-Mansell, DropWorks’ sales director and a cocktail connoisseur, featured a preview of the Cave Smoker serve.
The cocktail combined Barrel Drop’s warm winter spice notes with tawny Port, mezcal verde, maraschino cherry brine, and Angostura bitters. It is served theatrically, covered by a cloche that, when removed, reveals a fragrant cloud of vanilla smoke.
Bryant-Mansell commented: “When a bartender truly understands what makes a spirit tick – how it’s made, how it tastes, and the best way to present it – the drinks really come alive. The Ivy team really know their art inside out, and it was fantastic to share our Drops, which exist to inspire creativity behind the bar, with them first-hand.
“Christmas is the perfect time to explore new flavours and put a twist on a traditional drink, and we know The Ivy team have some delicious festive options on their menu.”
DropWorks operates ‘the largest rum distillery of its kind in Europe’, located in the heart of Sherwood Forest. The company believes in the great potential of rum and aims to create a new narrative for the spirit.
Lewis Hayes, founder and master distiller at DropWorks, said: “In a category dominated by mass-produced and artificially flavoured products, we want to prove that great rums can be naturally full of flavour. The Ivy team picked up on the nuances of our Drops straight away and created some brilliant festive serves that showcase them at their best.
“We’re proud to see our locally produced rum on the menu in The Ivy this Christmas, New Year’s and beyond.”
The collaboration follows the distillery’s recent crowdfunding campaign, which raised nearly half a million pounds from 295 supporters.
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