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
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...
Oyster Martini | Vodka Cocktail
Ready to step outside your comfort zone. The Oyster Martini became the standout serve of 2023. Oysters carry a clean minerality that works brilliantly with our Chardonnay Vodka. The result...
Chocolate Negroni | Gin Cocktail
A refined twist on the classic Negroni. Gin, Campari and Vermouth di Torino are lifted with bitters and chocolate liqueur, creating a subtle, confectionery-led cocktail with depth and balance.
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...
Left Bank Martini | Gin Cocktail
The Left Bank Martini is a refined, aromatic take on the classic. Gin meets a softer, wine led aperitif for balance and elegance, delivering a smooth, composed martini with Parisian...
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...
