Manchester rum entrepreneur lands double investment on ‘Dragons Den’

A Manchester-based rum entrepreneur has done the whole region proud by winning a double investment on the hit TV show, Dragons Den.

Following the death of his mother in 2018, Tom Hurst took a step back from his twenty-year long career in the corporate drinks industry to chase his dream of launching his very own rum brand.

He made his first batch in his home in Worsley and thus, Rockstar Spirits was born.

His unique rum, which includes the overproof Grenade range and the Two Swallows brand, has gone from strength to strength and has since enjoyed a partnership with Coca-Cola and coverage on ITV’s This Morning, where it proved a huge hit with host Holly Willoughby. 

Rockstar Spirits

So, after two foiled attempts at getting on the BBC show, Tom decided that this year was the time to finally seek an investment from the notorious Dragons on Dragons Den.

He appeared on the show earlier this month and despite the Dragons’ reputation, the entrepreneur received overwhelmingly positive feedback, particularly from Deborah Meaden, who described the product as ‘lovely,’ adding: “They look very good-quality so I’m expecting the drink in it to be lovely. You clearly know what you’re doing which is quite refreshing and a joy to listen to.”

He was helped during his pitch by bartender, Xavier Lequitte from Revolucion de Cuba in Manchester’s city centre, who created a cocktail called the ‘Dragons Daiquiri’ – a concoction of his own Two Sallows Citrus rum, pineapple and lime juice. The cocktail will be going on to the menu across all the Rev de Cuba sites in the UK later this month.

BBC

Tom was overjoyed with the outcome, saying: “My main goal was that they would like the products so once they all said they loved them I really relaxed and then when the offers started flying in.

“I was on cloud nine. The best moment was getting told I was an excellent entrepreneur which is quite something from the Dragons. I think I will get a t-shirt printed up with this on it to wear around the office.”

The hefty investment has helped Tom to gain a trade deal across the pond in Australia, where Rockstar Spirits will be stocked in 240 Woolworths stores across the country. The money is also been used to make new products and flavours for the Rockstar brand.

To check out Rockstar Spirits’ vast rum selection for yourself, click here.