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
NEGRONI SVEGLIATO | GIN COCKTAIL
Discover our Negroni Svegliato recipe, combining Great Bustard Gin, Campari and coffee-brewed sweet vermouth for a rich, bittersweet twist on the classic Negroni.
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.
COCKTAILS | DOWNTON DISTILLERY
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.
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.
Gin Gin Mule | Long Drink | Gin Cocktail
The Gin Mule blends gin, mint, lime and ginger beer for a crisp, refreshing serve. Born at New York’s Pegu Club, it remains a modern crowd-pleasing classic.
Rock Shandy | Non Alcoholic Cocktail
Rock Shandy is a grown up soft drink for people who choose not to drink alcohol. Sharp citrus, gentle sweetness, and a clean, refreshing finish. No alcohol, no compromise, and...
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...
Queen's Platinum Jubilee Martini | Gin Cocktail
This Martini places puts great gin front and centre. Originating in the 1930s, it replaces dry vermouth with Dubonnet, a sweet, herb infused French aperitif created in 1846. Favoured by...
Elderflower, Cucumber and Mint Spritz | Gin Cocktail
A Spritz is made for long, social days in the sun. Light, crisp, and gently sweet, it delivers refreshment without heaviness. Ideal for summer gatherings, garden parties, or when you...
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...
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...
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...
Bitter French | Long Style | Gin Cocktail
The Bitter French 75 blends the structure of a Negroni with the lift of a French 75. Created by Philip Ward in New York, it puts Campari centre stage, softened...
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...
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...
Bramble | Short Style | Gin Cocktail
The Bramble captures the shift from summer to autumn. Ripe blackberries bring back memories of hedgerow picking and warm kitchen bakes. Created in the 1980s by Dick Bradsell, it celebrates...
Passion Fruit Collins | Gin Cocktail
The Passion Fruit Collins is our twist on a classic formula of spirit, lemon, sugar, and soda. Bright passion fruit lifts the drink, adding freshness and gentle sweetness to the...
Strawberry Basil Smash | Gin Cocktail
The Strawberry Smash captures summer in a glass. Ripe strawberries and fresh basil bring garden freshness and soft sweetness. Made with well sourced fruit, it delivers bright flavour and easy...
The Sgroppino | Long Style | Gin Cocktail
The Sgroppino is a light, palate cleansing cocktail with Italian roots. Made with Downton Distillery gin, lemon sorbet, and prosecco, it delivers bright citrus, gentle sweetness, and a clean, refreshing...
The Breakfast Martini | Gin Cocktail
The Breakfast Martini is a modern classic made with Downton Distillery gin. Bright citrus leads, balanced by orange marmalade and a clean, dry structure. Fresh, lively, and precise, it delivers...
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....
Dirty Martini | Martini | Gin Cocktail
The Dirty Martini at Downton Distillery celebrates a cocktail classic. Gin and vermouth meet savoury depth, rooted in New York history and modern gin revival.
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,...
