From the Distillery
COCKTAILS
Stories, recipes, and reflections from our corner of Wiltshire exploring the craft, the landscape and the flavours that shape our spirits.
FROM THE DISTILLERY BAR
Each month, we create a new cocktail inspired by the season, the landscape and the spirits we make at Downton Distillery.
Some recipes revisit established classics. Others explore fresh ingredients, unusual flavour combinations and new ways to serve gin, vodka, liqueurs and eaux de vie. Every recipe includes clear measurements, practical techniques and guidance to help you make it confidently at home.
From crisp Martinis and refreshing summer serves to warming nightcaps and orchard-led cocktails, this is where we share what we are mixing behind the distillery bar.
COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH
NEGRONI SVEGLIATO | GIN COCKTAIL
Discover our Negroni Svegliato recipe, combining Great Bustard Gin, Campari and coffee-brewed sweet vermouth for a rich, bittersweet twist on the classic Negroni.
Autumnal Martinez | Classic | Gin Cocktail
A rich, autumnal riff on the Martinez, combining Great Bustard Autumnal Gin, sweet vermouth, Downton Crème de Cassis and orange bitters. Dark fruit, orchard spice and bittersweet citrus.
COCKTAILS | DOWNTON DISTILLERY
The Sgroppino | Long Style | Gin Cocktail
The Sgroppino is a light, palate cleansing cocktail with Italian roots. Made with Downton Distillery gin, lemon sorbet, and prosecco, it delivers bright citrus, gentle sweetness, and a clean, refreshing...
The Breakfast Martini | Gin Cocktail
The Breakfast Martini is a modern classic made with Downton Distillery gin. Bright citrus leads, balanced by orange marmalade and a clean, dry structure. Fresh, lively, and precise, it delivers...
Lemon Curd Gimlet | Gin Cocktail
I love experimenting with citrus, and gimlets and sours are firm favourites. A forgotten jar of lemon curd sparked this cocktail. Blended with Downton Distillery gin, it creates a rich,...
Campari Sour | Sour | Gin Cocktail
The Negroni Sour takes the bold, bittersweet character of the classic Negroni and softens it with citrus. Rich, balanced, and silky, it delivers depth with a brighter, more approachable finish....
Dirty Martini | Martini | Gin Cocktail
The Dirty Martini at Downton Distillery celebrates a cocktail classic. Gin and vermouth meet savoury depth, rooted in New York history and modern gin revival.
The Royal Tea Cocktail | Gin Cocktail
The Royal Tea Cocktail was created in 2007 to celebrate the Oscar winning film The Queen. It pairs gin with tea, drawing on shared spices and herbs for depth, elegance,...
The Original Southside | Gin Cocktail
If you love the Rum Mojito but are also a lover of gin, this will quickly become your favourite cocktail! On a hot evening this would be my choice of cocktail...
The Basil Smash | Gin Cocktail
This Basil Smash drives fresh basil and bright citrus over a clean gin base. The herbs land vivid and aromatic, the lemon keeps it sharp and the finish stays crisp....
The Original Gin Sour | Gin Cocktail
If you enjoy bright citrus cocktails or the refreshing character of a Mojito, this classic serve deserves a place in your repertoire. It combines fresh fruit, gin, and bitters to...
The Sunset Negroni | Gin Cocktail
This Negroni softens the classic bitterness and brings our citrus profile to the front. Explorer’s Gin sets the structure, ruby grapefruit liqueur adds lift and colour, and dry vermouth brings...
Paloma | Long Style | Gin Cocktail
This Paloma pushes clean grapefruit and lime to the front. The gin gives structure, working with the bold citrus notes of Explorer's. A touch of soda lifts the profile and...
The Original Pink Gin | Gin Cocktail
Long before shelves filled with sweet, fruit-flavoured pink gins, there was the original Pink Gin. Simple, elegant, and unmistakably grown-up, it remains one of the most enduring gin cocktails ever...
The Gimlet | Gin Cocktail
This Gimlet brings gin and lime into a sharp, focused balance. The citrus cuts clean, the gin holds the structure and the finish lands crisp with real clarity.
Hugo Spritz | Modern | Gin Cocktail
This Hugo Spritz uses gin to give the drink sharper structure. Elderflower brings lift. Mint adds freshness. Soda lightens the profile. It lands crisp, bright and easy to drink.
The Notorious Negroni | Gin Cocktail
How many of you know that this week (24th - 30th June) is Negroni Week? For those that do not know the Negroni, it is to this decade what the...
The 'Feisty French 75' | Champagne | Gin Cocktail
If you love gin and Champagne, the 'Feisty French 75' is the perfect cocktail to have this Valentine’s Day, whether you're going on a date or spend the evening with...
