Eau de Vie de Cidre is a spirit born from purpose and preservation, distilled from cider that can no longer be sold but still holds the essence of its orchard origins.

Made using organic apples grown at Cranborne Chase Cider, specifically a blend of Dabinett, Browns, and Yarlington Mill varieties. This cider was carefully racked to remove sediment, then distilled by Downton Distillery to create a clean, expressive eau de vie.

The result is a bright, orchard-fresh spirit that captures the richness of traditional cider apples while championing sustainability and circular craft.

It's a second life for cider refined, re-imagined, and rooted in the Dorset-Wiltshire countryside.

• Limited Edition of 40 bottles only.
• Bottle size 350ml @40% ABV.
• 55 Calories per 25ml.
• 50 apples used in each bottle.

HOW TO ENJOY

• Perfect for sipping neat as an aperitif.
• Or mixing into sophisticated cocktails. 
• Try with fresh apple juice.
• Avoid serving with tonic as quinine might overpower and spoil the flavour.

AWARDS

Nose: The nose is bright and expressive. A pronounced fresh apple scent leads. Fresh apple skins show first. Soft pear sits behind. Light caramel follows from fruit sugars during distillation.

Palate: The palate delivers clean, direct apple flavour similar to fresh pressed juice. Smooth texture gives a mouth-filling feel with a naturally sweet impression from the fruit. A gentle peppery spice emerges and carries into the finish.

Finish: Smooth, rounded full bodied, the finish stays balanced and clean.

Apple brandy cocktails bring orchard freshness, acidity, and structure. They pair well with citrus, spice, and bitters, delivering crisp, layered drinks with depth and a clean, dry finish.

Try the Angel Face this spirit forward cocktail uses gin, apple brandy and apricot liqueur.

If you like Mezcal then try the Smoke on the Solera.

• Orchard Spirits is a celebration of local abundance, crafted in small, seasonal batches that showcase the best of what our surrounding landscape has to offer.
• Each release is made using surplus or specially selected fruit grown in partnership with nearby growers and orchards, supporting local agriculture while reducing waste.
• From sun-ripened damsons, windfall apples, green walnuts to grape juice lees.
• These eau de vies and spirits are distilled to capture the true character of the fruit at its peak.
• Limited in quantity and rooted in place, Orchard Spirits tell a story of community, seasonality, and the rich flavours of the land.

Fruit brandies and eaux-de-vie are clear, aromatic spirits distilled from fermented fruit, capturing the pure essence of the fruit itself without added sugars or flavourings.

Commonly made from apples, cherries, grapes, pears, plums, raspberries, and these spirits are particularly celebrated in Europe within the Alsace, Black Forest, and Eastern Europe.

Eaux-de-vie (French for “water of life”) are typically unaged and bottled at around 40–45% ABV, offering a clean, dry, and intensely fragrant profile that showcases the raw beauty of the fruit.

Best enjoyed neat in a tulip-shaped glass, they are often served slightly chilled as a digestif after meals.

Their delicate aromas also make them excellent companions to cheese, fruit-based desserts, or rich chocolate.

While traditionally sipped, these spirits are also finding new life in modern cocktails, adding a unique, aromatic layer to sours, highballs, and aperitifs.

Whether sipped slowly or mixed creatively, fruit brandies and eaux-de-vie offer a refined, sensory connection to orchard and forest fruit at its peak.

We’ve chosen wax seals over paper or plastic because, let’s be honest they’re just more fun.

Each wax seal is hand-poured, giving every bottle a unique finish that feels like opening a treasure.

Beyond the looks, wax is a more sustainable choice than plastic shrink wrap, and it avoids the fiddly waste of paper seals. It’s our nod to tradition, a bit of theatre, and a touch of eco-friendly flair all rolled into one satisfying pop.

• We do hope that you are happy with your purchase.
• We aim to make the return process as simple as possible.
• We must be notified of damaged goods within 2 days of delivery.
• We will refund you using the method of payment used to make the purchase.
• Goods must be returned unopened, sealed and in the original packaging.
• Downton Distillery Ltd will refund accepted returns within 30 days of you notifying us.
• The postage of the return is the responsibility of the purchaser.
• Loss or damage during transit of goods being returned is the responsibility of the purchaser.

• Please note delivery will require a signature from an over 18.
• All deliveries are sent by signed post, whilst courier will be tracked.
• Deliveries will not be made to minors and delivery services will not complete delivery if they are unsure of the persons age.
• We are unable to leave a package (even in a ‘safe place’) without a signature.
• For UK deliveries please allow 3 - 5 working days from payment.
• The distillery is not responsible for Royal Mail strikes or late deliveries by Royal Mail.