Explorer’s Gin is inspired by Sir Walter Raleigh, who lived in Downton. On 25th March, 1584 he was given a Royal Warrant to explore & settle the New World. The land he called Virginia, in order to flatter Queen Elizabeth I. He established the Roanoke Colony, which became infamous as it disappeared in 1589. He is famed for bringing back both the potato & tobacco from America.

Explorer's Gin celebrates the concept of adventure & exploration. Our bottle colour reflects the depths of the sea to the surface, with celestial & map navigation lines wrapping around the bottle. Our logo, the ‘Rose of the Winds’ compass with its cardinal points was used by Explorers in the 'era of discovery' to help them navigate. Our unique botanical Western Red Cedar originated in North America.

Explorer’s Gin is a craft gin, distilled & bottled in very small batches at our Nano-distillery which sits on the 'Downs' above Downton in Wiltshire. We are authentic, attentive, proud & care deeply about the quality of our work. Each batch will macerate for up to 48hrs allowing our flavours to blend prior to distillation. We use the one shot method, all bottles are signed & numbered by hand with 100 bottles per run.

“It’s rare when we see a start-up with massive potential right off the bat. Downton Distillery and their Explorer’s Gin however, has just that and more. They are proving that what’s needed in today’s saturated category is about so much more than being a local gin, a craft distiller, a small batch production or even – having great gin. They demonstrate that great gin is about being more than the sum of any individual part and do so with panache.”

"Explorer's Gin harmoniously brings together classic gin characteristics with a contemporary twist. Familiar juniper, mixed citrus & liquorice flavours are joined by Western Red Cedar which enhances the piney notes, fennel brings out a herbal side, & a kick of warming pepper spice commences a lingering finish. It's a gin with complexity & depth and it is engaging through having clearly identifiable characteristics & stages along the flavour journey."