It’s now not uncommon to find a massive array of flavours, spices and variations on rum – which can often be overwhelming for someone who’s just looking for what tastes best and gets them drunk fast.
So check out one of these specialist rum bars in the city – where you can get the very best, rarest and weirdest rums and cocktails known to man, as well as Manchester producers and distillers of this much-favoured booze.
Manchester’s Best Rum Bars
The Liars Club
One of the cities favourite rowdy Tiki bars; Liars invariably offers a smattering of rum cocktails usually decorated with something that would make Del Boy blush. If you squint really hard, and drink about 12 cocktails then you could swear you were in a beach bar in 1970s Barbados – with a huge rum selection to match.
The Liars Club, 19A Back Bridge St, Manchester M3 2PB
www.theliarsclub.co.uk
Mojo
Here we have a verified Manchester institution – Mojo’s has been going for years and, it’s always been a fantastic night out, somewhere you can just let your hair down, get destroyed and dance on top of the tables to some top tunes. They also have a great selection of rums and their Old Fashioned is definitely one of their best cocktails. Oh and their Zombie’s are limited to a maximum of 2 per person so you just know that it will blow your tits off.
Mojo, 59 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BQ
www.mojobar.co.uk/manchester
Pull Up
Pull Up burst on the scene a couple of years back, offering up delicious Caribbean food and of course plenty of rum! It’s just far out enough of the city centre to get rid of the riff-raff and ensure you can get your hands on your pint without having to elbow everyone out of the way. Obviously opt for the Rum Punch, what else you gonna go for?! Then make it a pitcher to share because why the hell not!?
Pull Up Bar Cafe, 14-16 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JN
www.pullupbarcafe.co.uk
Schofield’s Bar
Not strictly a rum bar, but instead probably the city’s very best cocktail bar – Schofields have an excellent selection of rums on offer, and make the best classic Daiquiri you’ll drink in Manchester. If you’re ever looking for the best of any cocktail in the city – this is probably where you should head.
Schofield’s Bar, 3 Little Quay Street Sunlight House, Manchester M3 3JZ
www.schofieldsbar.com
Cane & Grain
Walk up the back stairs of Cane and Grain; past the smell of ribs and the people with BBQ sauce smeared all over their faces, and you will end up in their brilliant rum bar (The Liars Lounge) which gets proper busy and proper fun – particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. I’d give their Zombie a try, which includes some lovely rum, jungle juice and fire.
Cane and Grain, 49 -51 Thomas Street, Manchester M4 1NA
www.caneandgrain.co.uk
Lono Cove
A new and different take on the traditional Tiki Bar, Lono Cove opened up in the Northern Quarter at the tail end of 2021 and is a much slicker version of the classic Polynesian-themed joints you’re used to. They (obviously) have some fantastic rum-based cocktails in here, alongside some pretty mad sharers – including a HUGE Zombie with three kinds of rum and absinthe.
Lono Cove, 14 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1DH
www.lonocove.com
Sandinista
It’s sometimes hard to distinguish the kind of vibes that Sandinista are going for. They serve up (delicious) tapas dishes so it could be Spanish, but then their selection of rums is outstanding so it could be Cuban? Hmmm, I think we should all just stick to ‘Latin American’ and not worry about it. What we should worry about is what we’re going to drink and if rum is your thing (and I’m presuming it is because you’re reading this) then Sandinista have LOADS to offer. Try their Bajan Punch if you get a few minutes – it’s excellent.
Sandinista, 2 Old Bank St, City Centre, Manchester M2 7PF
site.sandinista.co.uk
Manchester Rum Producers & Distillers
Manchester is also home to an exciting range of rum producers…
Rockstar Spirits
You’ll probably have heard about Rockstar, and I bet that you’ve given them a try too. Since launching their super-strong Pineapple Grenade Rum in 2018, Rockstar have grown and grown, even appearing on Dragons Den last year. Owner Tom Hurst bagged the assistance of two of the Dragons – so expect to see much, much more from this lot in the coming months and years.
The Public Spirit Rum
Set up in a flat in Ancoats during the pandemic, The Public Spirit is a fantastic combination of five exquisite rums from the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, The Public Spirit also give back to the people of Manchester, with a quarter of their profits going directly back to the city’s food banks.
Diablesse Rum
Created by Manchester’s ‘Queen of Rum’ Cleo Farman back in 2019, Diablesse has made a huge impact on the city’s cocktail and bar scene, and you’ll see bottles of this in most venues in Manchester nowadays. Keeping things simple, but of the highest quality, they offer their Caribbean Golden or their Clementine Spiced to choose from – and if I’m being honest with you – it’s got to be the Clementine Spiced – it’s outstanding.
The Salford Rum Company
Started by two friends James Harrison and Tommy Gaughan, who wanted to create a small batch, column distilled rum that they themselves would want to drink. The result is an expertly blended golden rum spiced with vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon and dried fruits.
Witch King’s Rum
A range of bohemian fruit flavoured rum liqueurs – made and bottled in an old warehouse in the heart of Ancoats. Witch King’s Rum comes in 3 flavours, and are perfect in cocktails or can be drunk neat. Witch King’s also host a range of events throughout the city, from live music brunches to appearing at some of Manchester’s biggest makers markets.
One Eyed Rebel Rum
Distilled right in the city centre at The Spirit of Manchester Distiller – the home to Manchester Gin – One Eyed Rebel Rum is their new small batch liquor – a botanical spiced rum cut deep with ginger, undercurrents of vanilla and “a flaming heart of rich cassia.” It’s also the winner of the Spirits Masters GOLD Rum Master.
Rum Beat
Hailing from the streets of Moss Side, you may have noticed this Jamaican Rum Punch in shops, bars and restaurants recently – and you should probably grab a bottle (if you haven’t already). The Coconut & Pineapple flavour is amazing – although their Tropical is excellent too. Both will transport you to a beach in the Caribbean, even if you’re sat in your backyard in the rain.
ARLU Rum
Entrepreneurs Mark Smallwood and Liam Manton decided that rum needs a firm kick in the taste buds and so set about creating a “bold and innovative flavoured rum” in ARLU, available in three distinct flavours. There’s Original Spiced, Blood Orange and Passionfruit & Mango to contend with, each one based on a Guyanese rum from the award-winning Demerara Diamond Distillery.
