From the Distillery
THE JOURNAL
Stories, recipes, and reflections from our corner of Wiltshire — exploring the craft, the landscape, and the flavours that shape our spirits.
LATEST NEWS | DOWNTON DISTILLERY
History | The Great Irish Connection
Last month, I had the opportunity to examine an Irish Guards Company Colour. As a former Scots Guards officer and someone with a particular interest in the Great Bustard, I...
Distillery Plants | Planting new Grove.
Last month marked an important milestone in our juniper rewilding project. Twenty-five homegrown juniper saplings left the safety of our botanical garden and began a new chapter on the Wiltshire...
Education | Wiltshire History, The Lost City of Verlucio
Long before Wiltshire became known for its chalk downs, market towns, and ancient monuments, the county formed part of an important Roman transport and trading network. One of the lesser...
AWARDS | IWSC reveals shortlist for its 2024 Green Spirit Initiative
Sustainability is becoming a defining issue for the global spirits industry. Distilleries now face growing pressure to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining quality and authenticity. To recognise these efforts,...
Education | Wiltshire Downs | Cranborne Chase
Cranborne Chase is one of England's most remarkable landscapes and the place we are fortunate to call home. Spanning parts of Wiltshire, Dorset and Hampshire, this vast area of rolling...
Conservation - Rewilding Juniper
Thank you to those who continue to support our conservation work. One of our projects is the rewilding of Juniper. To date we have two groves / colonies, with twenty...
Conservation | Wiltshire Downs | The Great Bustard
The Great Bustard is one of Britain's most remarkable birds and one of the heaviest flying birds on Earth. Fossil evidence suggests that bustard-like birds have existed for millions of...
Chalke Valley History Festival
Every year a wonderful festival happens in the village of Broad Chalke just over the hill from the distillery. From humble origins in 2011 it has grown, now covering a 70-acre...
The Peregrines of Salisbury Cathedral
Peregrine falcons returned to Salisbury Cathedral in 2014, having been absent for over 60 years. Since then 27 chicks have fledged in the South tower of the Cathedral. The chicks...
Wiltshire Life Green Business Award
Over the last two years we have been focusing on our 'Eco Programme,' With the race to becoming a net zero economy by 2050, sustainability is becoming vital pillar to...
Adventurer | Wild Swimming | How to
With summer upon us, there has never been a better time to discover the joys of wild swimming. Over recent years, the sport has experienced a remarkable rise in popularity...
