We charge £650 plus VAT for a proof of concept.

This experience includes up to eight hours of recipe development, where we explore your ideas, flavour preferences and inspiration through email or telephone conversations. From there, we create and distill a bespoke proof-of-concept spirit tailored to your desired flavour profile and character.

Once distilled, we bottle the result and send you a 700ml sample to taste, review and refine. It is the first step in bringing your own unique spirit to life, crafted by hand at Downton Distillery using the same approach we use when developing our own award-winning gins.

Additional work is £100 plus VAT.

Spirit creation is part science, part craftsmanship and part interpretation. Every botanical behaves differently in the still, and flavour is ultimately a personal experience. For that reason, we cannot guarantee that the first recipe will be the final recipe.

Bottle and label design is one of the most personal parts of creating a spirit. It is your opportunity to communicate your story, values and personality before a customer has even opened the bottle. Some brands favour a clean and contemporary look, while others draw inspiration from heritage, local landscapes, architecture or family history.

Because this process is so closely tied to your identity, we do not offer bottle or label design services. We believe the most successful brands are those where the owner, designer or agency has complete creative freedom to develop a look and feel that truly reflects the product and the people behind it.

We are, however, happy to share practical guidance on bottle suppliers, packaging options and production considerations gained through our own experience. Once your label has been designed, we can also review it for regulatory compliance and help identify any issues before printing. This includes checking mandatory information such as product descriptions, alcohol strength, net volume, allergen declarations, producer details and other legal requirements.

Our aim is simple. You create the brand. We ensure your idea becomes reality.

MOQ is 100 bottles.

The final cost per bottle depends on:

• Volumes required.
• Final ABV % of the product.
• Botanical bill and sourcing of botanicals.
• Who does the bottling and labeling?
• Does the spirit have to be sent of for 3rd party bottling.

Please remember that excise duty will have to be paid to HMRC prior to stock being taken.

Creating the spirit is often the enjoyable part. Bringing it to market requires the correct licences and registrations. If you plan to sell your bespoke spirit or RTD, you must ensure that the appropriate permissions are in place for your business.

This may include a Premises Licence and Personal Licence for the sale of alcohol. If you intend to supply other businesses, such as retailers, bars, hotels or restaurants, registration under the Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) will also be required.

As every business is different, we encourage customers to familiarise themselves with the relevant regulations before launch. We are happy to share our experience, but responsibility for obtaining and maintaining the necessary licences remains with the brand owner.