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
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...
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.
Bees Knees | Short Style | Gin Cocktail
This Bee’s Knees brings gin, lemon and honey into tight harmony. The citrus stays sharp, the honey rounds the edges and the gin gives clean structure. It lands bright and...
The Original Bee Sting | Gin Cocktail
The Bee Sting takes the honey–citrus tradition and pushes it into sharper territory. Modern bartenders made spicy cocktails popular and this drink fits that shift. Our version swaps honey for...
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...
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...
Rosé & Red Berry Daiquiri | Vodka Cocktail
Summer brings the best of English fruit and local farms are full of ripe strawberries and raspberries. Pick your own or grab a punnet from the farm shop. This cocktail...
Spiced Lady | Sour Style | Gin Cocktail
Sour cocktails combine citrus, spirit and syrup for a clean summer serve. They adapt easily to personal taste. This version uses chili to add warmth and spice. Shake for longer...
Autumnal Apple | Short Style | Gin Cocktail
An autumnal gin sour built on dry cider and Explorer’s Gin. Maple syrup adds warmth without sweetness, while cinnamon brings depth and balance to this crisp seasonal cocktail.
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...
Samphire Martini | Gin Cocktail
The Samphire Martini is a fresh, savoury twist on the classic dirty martini. We replace olive brine with seasonal UK samphire, infused into Explorer’s Gin for a clean coastal salinity...
Petruchio Cocktail | Gin Cocktail
Inspired by our love of the Campari Sour, this cocktail swaps in Aperol for a lighter summer edge. Created in 2010 by Jamie Boudreau in Seattle, it suits Negroni drinkers...
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.
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...
