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
Jasmine Sour | Short Style | Gin Cocktail
Discover our Jasmine Sour, inspired by China's vibrant cocktail culture. A refreshing blend of gin, jasmine tea, citrus, and delicate floral notes.
Summer Cup No.1 | Gin Cocktail
Discover our Summer No.1 Cup with Great Bustard Autumnal Gin. Fresh apple, quince and warming spice bring a countryside twist to a classic British summer serve.
Romeo and Juliet | Gin Cocktail
Refreshing gin sour with Great Bustard Gin, lime, cucumber and mint. Crisp, aromatic, balanced with rose water, bitters and a subtle touch of salt.
Bright Orchard | Gin and Tonic | Gin Cocktail
A crisp winter Gin and Tonic using fresh apple, lemon, and light tonic. It is low in sugar, under 100 calories, and designed to lift your mood while keeping things...
The Angel Face | Brandy Cocktail
Elegant and warming, the Angel Face is the perfect autumn cocktail. With crisp apple from Calvados, soft apricot sweetness, and the dry balance of gin, it captures the flavour of...
Fireside Negroni | Gin Cocktail
The Fireside Negroni is Downton Distillery’s autumnal twist on the Italian classic a harmonious blend of Great Bustard Flight Strength Gin, Campari, sweet vermouth, Earl Grey tea, and a hint...
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...
Heat Wave Negroni | Gin Cocktail
Heatwave Negroni delivers a sharp, lifted profile built for warmer days. You taste bright citrus, crisp bitterness and a clean herbal edge that cuts through the heat. The balance stays...
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.
Bustard Cobbler | Gin Cocktail
The Bustard Cobbler is a rich, fruit-forward cocktail from Downton Distillery, combining seasonal ingredients with Great Bustard Gin for a refreshing twist on a classic cobbler bright, bold, and beautifully...
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.
Winter Jewel 75 | Champagne | Gin Cocktail
This Winter Jewel 75 builds a tight base of gin, citrus and seasonal spice, then lifts it with sparkling wine. The result is bright, crisp and quietly luxurious.
Spiced Pear Gin Fizz | Gin Cocktail
Pears bring a clean autumn sweetness that fits naturally with the herbal notes of Great Bustard Gin. Star anise and cardamom add warmth. The egg white gives silky texture. A...
Blackberry & Sparkling Rose Jelly | Gin Cocktail
Blackberries are in season and the hedgerows are full, so we created a dessert that puts their sweet, sharp flavour at the centre. Their high vitamin, fibre and antioxidant levels...
Enzoni | Negroni | Gin Cocktail
The Enzoni is a modern take on the Negroni, built on Campari’s bitterness, fresh grapes and the herbal profile of Great Bustard Gin. Created in 2001 by Vincenzo Errico at...
English Garden | Long Style | Gin Cocktail
The English Garden is a fresh, floral serve that mirrors the Wiltshire countryside in a glass. Shown on Sunday Brunch in June 2024 by Olivier Ward, it has become a...
Bicycle Thief | Sour Style | Gin Cocktail
The Bicycle Thief began at Dutch Kills in New York, created by Zachary Gelnaw-Rubin and Abraham Hawkins. It mixes gin and Campari with grapefruit, lemon and simple syrup, then tops...
Pegu Club | Short Style | Gin Cocktail
The Pegu Club opened in 1882 in Rangoon and became a social centre for British officers. Its signature cocktail, built on gin, citrus and bitters, was created to cut through...
Aperol Sour | Short Style | Gin Cocktail
The Aperol Sour brings Aperol’s blend of sweet and bitter orange into a clean, bright serve. Its sunset-orange colour sits under a thick, meringue-like foam. The flavour lands crisp, lightly...
Negroni Sour | Gin Cocktail
The Negroni was born in 1919 at Caffe Casoni in Florence when Count Camillo Negroni asked bartender Forsco Scarselli to strengthen his Americano by swapping soda for gin. The orange...
