DropWorks more than doubles revenue
English rum distillery DropWorks has more than doubled its revenue over the past 12 months.
The growth comes from increased year-on-year revenue from sales of DropWorks’ branded bottles and private-label products, and from more than 3,000 visitors booking tours at its distillery in Nottinghamshire.
Founded in 2023 by Lewis Hayes, DropWorks aims to redefine the rum category by establishing its high-quality, naturally flavoured British rum alongside traditional brands.
Celebrating the distillery’s third year of trading, the team remains committed to changing customer perceptions about rum.
DropWorks has secured listings in venues across England, including Soma, Disrepute, Slowpour, and Blinker, as well as luxury retailers such as Fortnum & Mason.
With more than 20 years of experience in the drinks industry, including marketing roles at Diageo, CEO Graham Appleyard joined the company just over a year ago.
Appleyard reflected on his time at DropWorks so far: “I was attracted to the business due to three reasons: premium rum is a big opportunity, the products were winning awards and creating a buzz and, above all else, the team had a big ambition – you don’t build Europe’s largest premium rum distillery without one.
“More importantly, though, when I stepped into the business, I discovered liquids that were even better than I had imagined, a visionary founder in Lewis who is an expert in his field and a talented team ready to make a difference.
“Over the last 12 months, we have evolved dramatically, and I look forward to seeing us move from strength to strength for the remainder of the year.”
In the past year, DropWorks exceeded its initial crowdfunding target, raising nearly £500,000 (US$671,000).
The company also formed a partnership with Haus Bitters to launch Haus Parties across the UK.
Another highlight from the year was the introduction of the brand’s limited edition Distiller’s Drop range. The first release sold out in under 48 hours, while the second release won a Gold medal at The Rum & Cachaça Masters 2026.
Hayes, founder and master distiller of DropWorks, added: “After welcoming Graham to the helm early last year, it is clear that his experience is paying dividends as we continue to grow the DropWorks brand and inject excitement into the rum category. As we look back on the last year, we have enjoyed some fantastic successes, and the next 12 months promise to be no different.”
Looking forwards, DropWorks will actively pursue targeted investments to achieve its long-term goal of expanding into international markets.
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