At Cocktails in the City this July, join Laki Kane on a delicious journey through New Wave UK Rum Brands—a vibrant showcase of Britain’s boldest rum producers, curated with unmatched enthusiasm by renowned bar owner and global rum educator Georgi Radev. With four exceptional Rum cocktails showcasing State of Rum, DropWorks, Outlier Distilling, and Goldstonethis is a delicious dive into Britain’s rum scene.
The adventure begins with State of Rum’s Banana Cake—a joyfully indulgent spirit that inspired Radev’s frozen Piña Colada remix. “It’s so delicious and naughty,” he grins. Featuring real coconut, pineapple, lime, sugarcane juice and a splash of coconut water for a salted caramel finish, it’s a tropical escapade you sip with a sun-drenched smirk. “You might get brain freeze, but you can’t stop.” – The ideal sipper for a London heatwave!
Then comes Outlier’s Manx Hoolie White—a rum Radev describes as “full of flavour,” made on the Isle of Man using pot stills and wood fire. His creation, the British Tiki, blends elderflower, fresh watermelon, cranberry and lime into a homegrown twist on the tiki tradition. A whisper of absinthe adds depth without dominance. “It’s like adding salt to a dish—you don’t taste it, but you’d miss it if it wasn’t there.”
DropWorks takes the story further with their dark rum featured in the whimsically named Punch Drop. “British rum history is being rewritten,” says Radev. “And DropWorks are leading the charge.” This clarified milk punch—infused with yuzu, local honey, pumpkin spice, dry Curaçao and Yorkshire tea—is as silky as it is sneaky. “You don’t realise how many you’ve had… until you drop.”
Finally, we hit the seafront with Goldstone Overproof from Brighton, the inspiration behind Zombie on the Beach. “It’s a tribute to British beach holidays, where a few drinks in the sun turns anyone into a zombie,” jokes Radev. Combining peach, cranberry, lime, agave and absinthe with a fiery sugar crust, it’s a sexy, sloshy mash-up of the Zombie and a Sex on the Beach—full-bodied and unapologetically fun.
Together, these four serves redefine what British rum can be: experimental, expressive, and deeply rooted in local character. Whether you’re after nostalgia, innovation, or just a damn good drink, Laki Kane’s New Wave UK Rums are pouring the future—with a smile and a splash.
