CRAFTED ON THE DOWNS. SHAPED BY DISCOVERY.
OUR STORY
From Sir Walter Raleigh and distant horizons to the wildlife and landscapes of the Wiltshire Downs, discover the journey behind Downton Distillery.
It Started With A Question
"What happens when a spirit genuinely reflects the landscape it comes from?"
Downton Distillery began with a simple belief. Great spirits should reflect the places that inspire them.
After years of military service and travel through some of the world's most remote landscapes, founder Hugh Anderson returned to Wiltshire with a desire to create spirits rooted in provenance rather than trends. Today, Wiltshire's heritage, local botanicals, seasonal harvests and conservation projects continue to shape every bottle that is produced.
FROM IDEA TO DISTILLERY
Every distillery has a story. Ours began in a humble shed in the village of Downton, once home to Sir Walter Raleigh. Inspired by adventure, driven by flavour and rooted in provenance, Downton Distillery has grown from a single still into an internationally recognised distillery on the Wiltshire Downs. These milestones mark the journey so far.
- 2018 → Founded.
- 2021 → Move to the Downs.
- 2022 → Juniper Rewilding.
- 2024 → IWSC Gold.
- 2025 → Sustainability Award Winner.
- 2026 → Gin Guide Winner of Best New Product 2026.
- 2026 → Gin Guide Winner of Best Brand and Design.
THE FIVE THINGS THAT SHAPE EVERY BOTTLE
These five foundations connect our history, landscape, people and purpose. Together they shape every spirit we create.
ADVENTURE
WHAT SHAPES EVERY BOTTLE
From Sir Walter Raleigh to Raleigh International, modern expeditions.
That same curiosity inspires every spirit we create. We explore flavour, ingredients and techniques to create bottles that reward the adventurous.
Provenance
ROOTED ON THE DOWNS
The Wiltshire Downs shape every spirit we create. Seasonal harvests, local partnerships and native botanicals influence our flavours and connect every bottle to the landscape we call home.
CRAFT
SMALL BATCH BY DESIGN
Every spirit is distilled, blended and bottled on the Wiltshire Downs. Traditional methods, careful ingredient selection and small-batch production allow flavour, provenance and character to take centre stage.
People
THE PEOPLE BEHIND IT
Great spirits are never created alone. From growers and conservation partners to customers and collaborators, Downton Distillery is built on relationships. Their stories, expertise and passion shape every bottle we make.
Conservation
PROTECTING WHAT INSPIRES US
The landscapes that inspire our spirits deserve protection. Through habitat restoration, juniper rewilding, species recovery and circular production, every bottle helps support a more sustainable future for the Downs.
OUR HOME
WHERE LANDSCAPE BECOMES FLAVOUR
Every bottle begins here. Surrounded by vineyards, native botanicals and rolling chalk downland.
DISTILLING ON THE WILTSHIRE DOWNS
Downton Distillery sits amongst vineyards, chalk downland and native botanicals on the West Wiltshire Downs. Every spirit is distilled, blended and bottled here.
Our 150-litre Portuguese alembic still, Abeona, allows us to focus on flavour rather than volume. Local harvests, fresh spring water from our own borehole and the surrounding landscape influence every bottle we create. Visitors are welcome to explore the distillery, walk through the botanical garden and discover how place shapes flavour.
140 Juniper Saplings Planted | 11 Homegrown Botanicals in Our Spirits | 70+ Botanical Species Cultivated | 43 Bird Species Recorded | 0% Water Lost | 11,000 Bottles Reused.
OUR STILL | 150L Copper Still
ABONEA
Named after the Roman guardian of safe passage, Abeona has been at the heart of every Downton Distillery spirit since 2021. Our 150-litre Portuguese copper alembic allows us to distil slowly and by hand, focusing on flavour rather than volume. Every spirit is distilled, blended and bottled on the Wiltshire Downs, where craftsmanship takes precedence over scale.
ESTABLISHED 2021
OUR HOME
Nestled amongst vineyards, chalk downland and ancient landscapes, the distillery sits at the heart of the West Wiltshire Downs. This remarkable landscape influences everything we create, from the botanicals we grow and forage to the flavours, stories and heritage found in every bottle. Here, provenance is more than a philosophy. It is part of every spirit we make.
REWILDING THE DOWNS
JUNIPER
Juniper is the heart of gin and one of Britain's most threatened native species. More than 80% of Wiltshire's historic juniper population has disappeared. Since 2022, we have planted over 140 saplings across the Wiltshire Downs, helping restore this iconic botanical to its native landscape and supporting the long-term recovery of a species in decline.
LIVING BOTANICAL LIBRARY
DISTILLERY GARDEN
Once neglected scrubland, the distillery garden is now a thriving botanical sanctuary. Home to more than 70 species, it supplies botanicals for our spirits, supports pollinators and welcomes wildlife. Angelica, lemon verbena, cedar, lucerne and juniper grow just metres from the still, connecting landscape, flavour and every bottle we produce.
meet the distiller
After a career in the Scots Guards, expeditions through South America with Operation Raleigh, racing across the Andes, cycling across Europe and collecting more than a few mountains along the way, Hugh decided he needed a new challenge. Apparently crossing continents wasn't enough.
The seeds of Downton Distillery had been planted much earlier. His great uncle was both a brewer and distiller, but everything clicked during a visit to the City of London Distillery with his partner, Meike. What began as a gift quickly became an obsession. A mentor was found, notebooks filled, mistakes made, lessons learnt and Downton Distillery was founded in 2018.
Since then, Hugh has completed WSET Level 1 and 2 in Spirits, Sake Level 1. While Hugh rarely seeks the spotlight, his work has quietly found its way onto shelves, judging panels and award stages across the industry. Alongside creating every spirit released by Downton Distillery, he is also the creator for the award-winning gins for James May and served as a judge for the Gin Guide Awards. Great Taste Awards, IWSC medals and international recognition have followed.
Every spirit released by Downton Distillery has been designed, distilled and bottled by Hugh on the Wiltshire Downs. Local ingredients, seasonal harvests and genuine provenance sit at the heart of every bottle.
When he's not in the distillery, you'll usually find him in the distillery garden, exploring another hill somewhere, or quietly suffering on Zwift under the name Downton Distillery.
RECOGNISED BEYOND THE DOWNS
Recognition is never the goal, but it is a reflection of the standards we set ourselves. From IWSC Gold medals and Great Taste Awards to sustainability honours and category victories, our spirits continue to earn acclaim for both flavour and innovation.
100+ International Awards & Medals | IWSC Gold Medal Winner | Drinks Sustainability Award Winner | World's Best Brandy | England's Best Grape Vodka | Gin Guide Award Winner
JUDGED BLIND. RECOGNISED FOR FLAVOUR.
GREAT TASTE AWARDS
Judged blind by leading chefs, buyers, producers and food writers, the Great Taste Awards recognise products purely on flavour by a series of panels. For Downton Distillery, Great Taste recognition provides independent validation that our commitment to provenance, craftsmanship and carefully sourced ingredients consistently delivers spirits of exceptional quality and character.
JUDGED BY THE WORLD'S LEADING SPIRITS EXPERTS
IWSC AWARD WINNERS
The International Wine & Spirit Competition is one of the world's most respected spirits competitions. Every entry is judged by industry experts through a rigorous process that assesses quality, character and technical excellence. These award-winning spirits represent some of the highest-scoring and most celebrated releases produced by Downton Distillery.
RECOGNISED AMONG ENGLAND'S BEST SPIRITS
THE BEST OF ENGLAND
From local orchards and vineyards to hedgerows and seasonal harvests, this collection celebrates spirits recognised amongst England's finest food and drink products. Featuring award-winning releases including Nocino, Chardonnay Vodka, Great Bustard Gin and Marc de Downton, each bottle showcases exceptional ingredients, provenance and craftsmanship from the Wiltshire Downs.
THE ULTIMATE TEST OF A SPIRIT
BEST IN A MARTINI
The martini leaves nowhere to hide. No mixers. No sugar. No distractions. Just the spirit in the glass. This collection brings together spirits recognised by the Gin Guide Awards and World Spirits Competition for their performance in one of the world's most demanding cocktails. Great Bustard Gin, Great Bustard Flight Strength and Chardonnay Vodka have all earned recognition for exceptional martini character.
AS FEATURED IN & RECOGNISED BY
Great spirits should speak for themselves, but it is always encouraging when others take notice. From Sunday Brunch and Great Taste to IWSC, Gin Guide Awards and the Drinks Sustainability Awards, our spirits and sustainability programmes have been recognised by some of the most respected names in food and drink.
Sunday Brunch | IWSC | Great Taste Awards | Gin Guide Awards | Drinks Sustainability Awards | WSTA | Great British Food Awards
Inspired by place. Driven by adventure. Guided by purpose.
EXPERIENCE IT FOR YOURSELF
VISIT THE DISTILLERY
Walk through the botanical garden, meet Abeona, explore the still room and discover how the Wiltshire Downs shape every bottle we create. Join us for a guided tour, tasting and a closer look at the stories behind our spirits.