Shipping, Returns & Pre-Orders
The Rum Infusionist Ltd.
We’re a small, family-run distillery based in Sussex, and every bottle is infused, bottled, labelled and packed by hand by our family. Below you’ll find everything you need to know about shipping, pre-orders, returns and exchanges.
📦 Shipping Policy - UK Shipping
Our standard UK service is Royal Mail Tracked 48. Faster options are available at checkout.
• £3.99 standard shipping on orders under £100
• Free standard shipping on orders over £100
Faster UK Delivery
If you need your order sooner, these options are shown at checkout: These are mainland UK services and are not available to Ireland.
• Royal Mail Tracked 24 — £5.99 (free on orders from £150 to £199.99)
• DPD Next Day — £6.99 (free on orders over £200)
Royal Mail Tracked 48, Royal Mail Tracked 24 and DPD Next Day all refer to delivery speed after dispatch, not from the date of order.
Tracking details are sent by email once your order has physically left our distillery.
What The Delivery Speed Options Mean
Tracked 48, Tracked 24 and DPD Next Day are the couriers’ own service levels. They describe how quickly the courier aims to move your parcel once it has left us. They are targets, not guaranteed delivery times, and we do not offer a guaranteed-delivery or money-back delivery service.
• “Next day” means the next working day after dispatch. Working days are Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays — a parcel dispatched on a Friday is normally delivered on the Monday.
• Paying for a faster service changes how quickly the courier moves your parcel after we hand it over. It does not change how quickly we pack it — our dispatch times are above.
• On a pre-order, a faster service applies from the dispatch of that batch, not from the day you ordered. If you would rather not pay for it in the meantime, email us before dispatch and we will refund the upgrade.
If Your Delivery Is Late
Occasionally a parcel misses its service — weather, courier network problems, strike action, road closures, a mis-scan at a depot, or an address that is incomplete or incorrect.
• Email info@theruminfusionist.com with your order number and we will chase the courier and keep you updated.
• Where the courier accepts that it failed its service and refunds us the cost of that service, we pass that refund on to you in full.
• Where the delay is caused by something the courier will not accept a claim for — an incorrect or incomplete address, nobody available to receive the parcel, the parcel being refused, access restrictions, or events outside anyone’s control — we are not able to refund the delivery charge, because the delivery has still been made and charged to us.
• Where a courier offers a “leave safe” or neighbour option and you choose it, the parcel is left at your own risk once it has been delivered as instructed.
None of this affects your legal rights. If we have not delivered within 30 days, or by a delivery date we have agreed with you in writing as essential, you can contact us to cancel the order and we will refund you.
If Your Delivery Date Is Essential
• If your order has to arrive by a particular date — a birthday, an anniversary, Christmas — please email us before you order and we will tell you honestly whether it is realistic.
• We can only treat a date as essential if we have confirmed it with you in writing. Otherwise, all delivery dates and courier timings are estimates.
Age Verification On Delivery (18+)
Our parcels contain alcohol, so they cannot be handed to anyone under 18.
• The courier may ask for proof of age on delivery and can refuse to hand the parcel over if no one aged 18 or over is available, or if ID is not produced.
• Parcels that cannot be delivered for this reason are returned to us. We are happy to send the order out again, but the cost of re-delivery is payable by you.
• Where a courier requires an adult signature, we cannot ask them to leave your parcel in a safe place or with a neighbour.
Delivery Outside the UK
We do ship beyond the UK, and rates are calculated at checkout.
• Next Day and Tracked 24 delivery are not available anywhere in Ireland — this includes Northern Ireland. Royal Mail do not offer those services to Ireland from our distillery in Sussex.
• Orders to the Republic of Ireland travel on an international service, so please allow additional time.
• Northern Ireland orders ship on our standard UK tracked service — everything except the 24-hour and next-day options.
• Any customs duties or import taxes are the responsibility of the customer.
Dispatch Times (In-Stock Items)
• In-stock orders are dispatched the next working day
• Working days are Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays — an order placed on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday is dispatched on the Monday
• During busy periods (new launches, promotions, Christmas) dispatch can take a little longer. If it does, we say so on the product page before you order
Everything is packed by hand by our family team, so if anything is going to take longer than the next working day we will email you and tell you.
Local Delivery
Where offered, local deliveries are completed personally by our family team. Timing will be confirmed directly if applicable.
⏳ Pre-Orders (Please Read Carefully)
Some of our products — including limited releases and Rumaretto™ batches — are sold as pre-orders.
When you place a pre-order:
• The product is not ready to ship immediately
• An expected dispatch window is clearly shown:
• on the product page
• in your cart
• at checkout
• Payment is taken at checkout to secure your place in the batch
Pre-Order Dispatch Dates
• Pre-order dispatch dates are estimates, not guarantees
• Dates are based on:
• production timelines
• hand-packing capacity
• courier availability
During exceptionally busy periods (especially Christmas), dispatch may take longer than planned.
Pre-Order Updates
To keep you informed, we:
• Send email updates during the pre-order period
• Notify you as soon as your order is dispatched
• Provide tracking details once your parcel leaves us
If a delay occurs, we’ll always communicate openly and honestly.
🎄 Christmas & Peak Periods
During peak periods (November–December):
• Dispatch times may be extended
• Courier networks may experience delays beyond our control
• Orders from “not guaranteed before Christmas” batches may arrive after Christmas
If your order is intended as a gift, we always recommend ordering as early as possible.
🔄 Returns & Exchanges
If you’re not completely happy with your purchase, you may request a return within 14 days of delivery.
• Returned items must be unopened and in their original packaging
• Return postage costs are the responsibility of the customer
• Once received, a full refund will be issued to the original payment method
To request a return, please email info@theruminfusionist.com.
Exchanges
If you’d like to exchange your order for a different flavour or product:
• Contact us within 14 days of delivery
• Items must be unopened and unused
• Customers are responsible for return and re-shipping costs
Faulty, Damaged or Missing Items
If your order arrives damaged, incomplete or incorrect:
• Please contact us within 7 days of delivery
• Include:
• your order number
• photos of the item(s)
• photos of the outer packaging (required for courier claims)
We’ll resolve the issue as quickly as possible with a replacement or refund.
💳 Pre-Order Refunds
If you no longer wish to wait for a pre-order:
• You may request a full refund at any time before dispatch
• Refunds are processed promptly once requested
❓ Need Help?
If you have any questions about your order, pre-orders, shipping or returns, please email us at:
📧 info@theruminfusionist.com
We’re always happy to help.