Alfie goes to London and brings home an award
With Hugh away, Alfie and his partner headed to London’s Haymarket Hotel on 30 September to represent Downton Distillery at the 2026 Footprint Drinks Sustainability Awards. They enjoyed a lively evening meeting new people across the drinks industry, celebrating good ideas and collecting an award on our behalf. A rather successful night out.
Downton Distillery won the Waste Management and Prevention Award and received Highly Commended for Sustainable Use of Raw Materials.
This was a major industry competition. The shortlist included Heineken UK, Asahi UK and Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, alongside independent producers, hospitality businesses and social enterprises. For a one-person distillery on the Wiltshire Downs, earning two honours in that company is something to celebrate.
The work behind the awards starts here at Domaine Hugo Vineyards. Our Bottle for Life scheme helps customers keep their glass bottles and refill them using returnable pouches, which we clean and reuse.
Our local partnerships bring the same thinking into production. We turn surplus cider, grape pomace and wine lees into Eau de Vie de Cidre, Marc de Downton and Chardonnay Vodka. Working with neighbouring cider and wine producers gives these materials another use and creates spirits with a clear connection to where we make them.
Avani Solutions sponsored the Waste Management and Prevention Award, with Toast Brewing receiving Highly Commended. Beyond Belief Brewing Co. won the Sustainable Use of Raw Materials Award, sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.
The results follow Hugh’s Special Achievement Award at the 2025 Drinks Sustainability Awards. Two years of recognition, and this time Alfie got the night out.
Thank you to Alfie and his partner, the Footprint team, our local producers and everyone who keeps refilling. We have plenty more to do, but this deserves a moment of celebration.
