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
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.
Jardin éphémère | Spritz | Brandy Cocktail
Jardin Éphémère cocktail with elderflower, apple, Downton Eau de Vie de Cidre and Champagne. A fresh, aromatic orchard-inspired serve.
COCKTAILS | DOWNTON DISTILLERY
Jam Jar Martini | Gin Cocktail
Born from the “make it with what you’ve got” spirit of the early 2000s, the Jam Jar Martini is as simple as it is delicious. Fresh gin, zesty citrus, and...
Green Wing Sour | Gin Cocktail
The Green Wing Sour is a vibrant, herbaceous cocktail from Downton Distillery, blending bold citrus with fresh green notes and a smooth botanical base—perfectly balanced, refreshingly original.
The Rhubarb Sour | Gin Cocktail
This Rhubarb Sour drives sharp rhubarb and fresh citrus over a smooth, structured base. The texture stays soft, the flavour stays bright and the finish lands clean.
Grapefruit & Ginger Hot Toddy | Gin Cocktail
This Grapefruit and Ginger Hot Toddy brings sharp citrus and warm spice together. Fresh grapefruit lifts the aroma while ginger delivers heat and depth. The drink lands bright, soothing and...
French Blonde | Gin Cocktail
The French Blonde has gathered fresh attention, rumoured to be Taylor Swift’s current favourite. It blends grapefruit, elderflower liqueur, Lillet Blanc, gin and lemon bitters into a light, floral, citrus-driven...
Angelo Azzurro | Short Style | Gin Cocktail
This drink was created at Dante, the 104-year-old Italian restaurant in Greenwich Village. It draws on two Italian staples: the Negroni and the Angelo Azzurro. The recipe uses three white...
Hot Toddy | Long Drink | Gin Cocktail
A Gin Hot Toddy delivers warmth, citrus and spice in a clean, comforting serve. It suits cold evenings and highlights the botanicals in Explorer’s Gin. Easy to make, fast to...
Smoked Blood Orange Mimosa | Gin Cocktail
The Mimosa has a split heritage. Buck’s Club in London created the Buck’s Fizz in 1921, leaning heavily on Champagne. Paris followed in 1925 when Frank Meier at the Ritz...
Vesper Martini | Gin & Vodka Cocktail
The Vesper Martini is a classic cocktail created by Ian Fleming in his 1953 novel Casino Royale. Made famous by James Bond, it combines gin and vodka with Lillet, an...
The White Lady | Sour | Gin Cocktail
The White Lady is a classic gin cocktail. Created in the early twentieth century, it pairs gin with fresh lemon juice and orange liqueur to deliver precision rather than excess. The...
Hanky Panky | Short Style | Gin Cocktail
The Hanky Panky is a gin martini with real character. Created in the 1920s by Ada Coleman at The Savoy, it balances sweetness, bitterness, and deep herbal complexity. Fernet Branca...
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,...
Cucumber Spritz | Gin Cocktail
The Gin Cucumber Spritz is crisp, light, and refreshing. Cool cucumber lifts the gin, softened with gentle citrus and fizz for an easy, clean summer serve.
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....
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...
