DOWNTON DISPATCHES

With summer here we wish to introduce you to wild swimming. This sport has increased in popularity over the last four years, as people brave the natural elements in favour...

One of our Explorer’s last year was Colonel Percy Fawcett who disappeared in the Amazon whilst trying to find the ‘Lost City of Z’. His theory of a lost civilisation...

With summer now upon us this dish celebrates those fresh summer flavours. It started originally as a simple Italian peasant dish and is now a celebrated Italian Classic with clams...

The countryside is finally alive, and it is now that you will find elderflower bushes in flower. Their frothy, white flowers tend to bloom in early May for just a...

Chocolate and Gin? Yes please! 08th Feb Update: Unfortunately, the powers that need to sign the labels off, have not been able to do so, therefore our lables will not...

This month we were informed about a lady called 'Arabella Slinger' by one of our readers, who is currently in Antarctica trekking 600 miles over 40 days. Her journey will...

Being sustainable is not an easy task, more so when our 'Explorer's' bottle is made & decorated in Milan before it travels across Europe to get to us. I am...

Our Explorer of the month, is a remarkable lady. At 23 she was made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and is the youngest council member of the Scientific...

Sugar Syrup is the basic ingredient used within most cocktails, cordials, punches and flavoured coffees. The common syrup we will recognise is the Monin brand found in most supermarkets selling...

Our Explorer of the month is unknown to many people considering her legendary exploits in Arabia. Gertrude Bell was a writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped,...

Our adventurer of the month was a pioneer of flight, she amongst other female pilots led a blazing trail through the golden age of aviation. She was meant to have...

300 years after Raleigh tried to find El Dorado, Percy Fawcett set out to find a different city, a city that he called 'Z'.  Steven Spielberg & George Lucas based...

HISTORY OF RHUBARB Rhubarb originated from Asia, reaching Europe (in the ports of Turkey) via the Silk Road in the early 14th Century. Back then, it was valued more than...

Over the last couple of years, the spirits and food industries have seen a major shift in consumerism as people have become aware of their food intolerances and the rise...

Christmas is appearing once more on the horizon and with the season comes the parade of gin filled advent calendars, all vying for your attention. This year we have teamed...

On 11th November each year, at 11.00hrs two minutes silence is given up from our busy lives to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for all that we...

Last week I received a call, it was a cold call, nothing new there. The lady who I spoke to sounded very nice and pleasant. Her manners were impeccable, and...

Earlier this year we switched our focus from making gin to creating hand sanitiser for our local communities. This switch saw the distillery support local front-line services, schools, care homes,...

Over the last month the wonderful duo of Sally and Lloyd of the Christchurch Confectioner have been showcasing regional and local micro distilleries. Their reviews discuss the heritage, terroir, botanicals...

On Sunday Downton Distillery alongside hundreds of other small businesses submitted their tweet. This was no normal tweet, this was going out to Dragon Den Star Theo Paphitis and into...

On World Gin Day ‘Just Luxe’ a luxury lifestyle magazine published their review of the most innovative and interesting gins in the global market. Having been included in their review...

At Downton Distillery we are always looking at improving our carbon footprint and improve our sustainability. As improvements are made any savings that we can offer will always be passed...

James Bond 007 ordered his first Martini in Goldfinger written in 1964, but the following year he ordered a Pink Gin in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun.’ This type...

Explorer's Gin was 'Gin of the Week' with the Gin Guide at the start of May. This was hot of the back of the Gin Guide Awards where Explorer's was...