LEAVING MORE THAN WE TAKE
SPIRITS THAT GIVE BACK
Every bottle begins with flavour, but its story does not end there. Through conservation, circular design and responsible production, we are building a distillery that leaves a positive mark on the landscape we call home.
OUR APPROACH
BUILT AROUND THREE PRINCIPLES WITH ONE DIRECTION.
- Craft | Create spirits with provenance, flavour and purpose.
- Conservation | Protect and restore the species, habitats and landscapes that define Wiltshire.
- Circularity | Reduce waste, reuse materials and find value in what others throw away.
These principles shape every bottle, partnership and decision we make and our commitment to leaving more than we take.
Spirits With Purpose
CRAFT
Award-winning spirits inspired by place, heritage, season and exploration.
Protecting What Inspires Us
CONSERVATION
Supporting species recovery, habitat creation and environmental education.
Designing Out Waste
CIRCULARITY
Turning waste streams into new products while reducing emissions and packaging.
IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
MEASURING WHAT MATTERS
Great intentions are easy to claim. Meaningful change comes from honest decisions, measurable action and continuous improvement. While our distillery is powered by 100% renewable electricity, our traditional copper still relies on gas to produce every spirit with the precision and consistency we demand. We're open about that challenge and committed to improving wherever we can.
From reducing emissions and reusing packaging to restoring habitats and supporting wildlife conservation, every initiative is measured so we understand the difference it makes. Every figure on this page comes from us, a small independent distillery. We don't have the scale of multinational brands, but we believe meaningful change starts with businesses willing to take responsibility, measure their progress and keep improving. These results have only been possible through the support of our customers, partners and local community.
All of this is made possible through one person’s quiet dedication.
Small Distillery | Significant Results.
PROTECTING WILTSHIRE'S NATURAL HERITAGE
REBUILDING BIODIVERSITY
Over generations, the Wiltshire Downs have changed dramatically. Traditional grazing landscapes gave way to intensive agriculture, hedgerows disappeared, and species that once thrived across the chalk hills became increasingly rare.
We believe great spirits should do more than reflect a landscape. They should help protect it. Through juniper rewilding, support for Great Bustard conservation, habitat restoration and community engagement, we are investing in the future of the countryside that inspires every bottle we produce.
Every purchase from our Conservation Collection helps support projects that protect wildlife, restore biodiversity and ensure these remarkable landscapes continue to thrive for generations to come.
Restoring a Lost Native Species
JUNIPER REWILDING
Once common across the Wiltshire Downs, juniper has declined dramatically over the past century. Through Explorer's Gin and customer donations, we have established new groves, nurtured young saplings and begun returning plants to suitable habitats across the Downs. Every juniper planted today has the potential to remain part of the landscape for centuries.
Britain's Heaviest Flying Bird
BUSTARD RECOVERY
The Great Bustard once roamed freely across Wiltshire before disappearing through hunting and intensive farming. Thanks to the dedication of the Great Bustard Group, this remarkable bird is returning to Salisbury Plain. Great Bustard Gin helps raise awareness and supports the ongoing recovery of the species. A small contribution to restoring a bird that was once lost from our countryside.
Creating Space For Wildlife
HABITAT CREATION
What was once an overlooked corner of farmland is now a thriving garden supporting wildlife. By restoring neglected land, it is used for educational purpouses, growing plants used in our spirits and supports a new juniper grove. We have created space for nature to flourish. Today, it provides food, shelter a for more than 47 species of birds, pollinators and three leverets.
Ingredients Closer To Home
LOCAL BOTANICALS
We believe ingredients should never go to waste. Working with local growers and producers, surplus walnuts, apples and vineyard pomace are transformed into distinctive spirits including Nocino,Orchard Spirits and our Chardonnay Vodka. This reduces waste, supports local agriculture and creates spirits rooted in the Wiltshire landscape. All waste is then composted back.
CIRCULARITY IN ACTION
Nothing Wasted. Everything Valued.
From surplus fruit and vineyard by-products to refill packaging and bottle returns, we continuously look for ways to keep valuable materials in use for longer. By rethinking waste, we create exceptional spirits while reducing our environmental impact.
HOW WE TURN WASTE INTO OPPORTUNITY
THE CIRCULAR JOURNEY
Traditional production follows a simple path. Make, use and discard. We believe there is a better way. By working with local growers, producers and customers, we keep materials in circulation, reduce waste and create products with a genuine story behind them. Materials often get reused multiple times or up-cycled into something new.
Surplus Fruit
ORCHARD SPIRITS
Apples and excess fruit that might otherwise be overlooked are transformed into Eau de Vie de Cidre, Pommeau and seasonal releases. Every bottle celebrates local orchards while reducing food waste.
VINEYARD BY-PRODUCTS
VINEYARD TO BOTTLE
Chardonnay pomace and wine lees from Domaine Hugo are distilled into Marc de Downton, Eau de Vie Fifteen and Chardonnay Vodka. Creating value from materials traditionally discarded.
LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS
UPCYCLING RESOURCES
Working with local businesses we ensure used materials continue their journey. Distilled citrus becomes jam with Naked Jams. Old IBCs get used in Hydroponic farming, and pallets turned into furniture.
BOTTLE FOR LIFE
DESIGNED FOR REUSE
Our refill programme keeps bottles in circulation for years. Returned pouches are cleaned, inspected and prepared for reuse, reducing the need for new glass production. Each pouch saves 2.1Kgs of CO2.
NOTHING TO WASTE
BACK TO THE LAND
Spent botanicals from distilling are composted and returned to the vineyard, enriching the soil and helping support future harvests. What begins in the landscape ultimately returns to it.
INDEPENDENT RECOGNITION
RECOGNISED FOR ACTION
From the very beginning, our hope was simple: to build a distillery that lived gently on the land that surrounds it. Every step we take reducing our footprint, supporting local wildlife, or giving new life to resources is rooted in that promise. We know we are far from perfect. There is always more to learn, more to improve, and more to protect. What matters is moving forward with honesty, care, and a willingness to grow.
The achievements below are not ours alone. They belong to everyone who has walked beside us, who gives their time and wisdom, the customers who believe in our values, the partners who share their expertise, and the community that continues to lift this journey with quiet, unwavering support.
Thank you.
2023
GIN GUIDE AWARD
Recognised for our commitment to reducing environmental impact and embedding sustainability into working practices.
2024
IWSC FINALIST
Shortlisted for the Green Spirit Initiative, recognising distilleries working to improve environmental performance. The winner was Makers Mark.
2024
GREEN APPLE AWARDS
Gold Award for Environmental Best Practice, celebrating practical actions that deliver measurable results against daily operations.
2025
SPIRITS BUSINESS
Ethical Award Finalist, recognising our approach to responsible business, conservation and community engagement.
2025
DRINKS S. AWARDS
Recognised by industry leaders for our work in circularity, conservation and reducing environmental impact from daily distilling.
LOOKING AHEAD
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Impact is never finished.
Over the coming years we will continue expanding our refill programme, increasing biodiversity projects, reducing emissions across our supply chain and finding new ways to create exceptional spirits with less environmental impact.
The goal remains unchanged.
Leave the landscape in better condition than we found it.
EXPLORE THE STORIES BEHIND THE NUMBERS
Impact starts with people, places and plants. It is never to late to make a start of your own. Our own voyage started in earnest during lock down, mapping out how and where we could make a difference. Small steps, magnified by others can led to huge rewards.
Discover the botanicals, landscapes and conservation projects that shape every spirit we make.
2022
REFILL POUCHES
We introduced refills to encourage customers to keep their bottles for life, preventing unnecessary waste and reducing disposal of something designed to be reused again and again.
2023
REFILL CIRCULARITY
By having refill pouches sent back for free it allows us to reuse them endlessly. We avoid single‑use waste while giving customers the benefit of fairer, more flexible price points.
2023
REWILDING JUNIPER
Our restoration work is bringing juniper back to the Wiltshire landscape, but it doesn’t supply our spirits; the juniper we use still comes responsibly from Poland.
2023
OUR BOTANICALS
We try to use local botanicals wherever possible. Though due to quantities some ingredients must be sourced overseas when climate or availability limits what can be grown here.
2024
GREAT BUSTARDS
Our botanicals share the same landscape that feeds the Great Bustards, creating a direct land‑to‑bottle link between their restored habitat and the Great Bustard spirits we produce.