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.
Pear and Cardamon Sidecar | Brandy Cocktail
This cocktail brings pear and cardamom into clear focus. Sweet orange lifts the nose. Ripe pear follows with gentle spice. Our Marc adds depth with its clean cacao note. The...
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.
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...
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...
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.
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...
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...
Pumpkin Gin Sour | Gin Cocktail
As the clocks go back and Halloween creeps in, it is time for something seasonal with bite. The Pumpkin Gin Sour delivers autumn warmth with a playful edge. Built with...
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 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 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.
