Downton Distillery

Downton Distillery Downton Distillery crafts award-winning spirits rooted on the Wiltshire Downs. Our ethos is reuse and conservation. Distilling is not just production.

Celebrating local heritage and provenance, we craft by flavour, built on sustainability. We create award-winning spirits rooted in the Wiltshire Downs. Every bottle reflects provenance, sustainability, and celebrating local flavour. It is product design, some fun with science and storytelling combined. My work focuses on:

• Sustainable spirits and circular production
• Conservation-led collaborat

ions
• Chalk downland botanicals
• Refill systems and packaging reduction
• Building a modern British distillery brand

I believe spirits can carry meaning, not just alcohol. Craft, landscape, and conservation can coexist. Always exploring. Always refining. Always distilling with purpose.

Join us next week, 14th April at 18.30hrs at the The Great Bustard for an evening that goes beyond the glass. We will be...
08/04/2026

Join us next week, 14th April at 18.30hrs at the The Great Bustard for an evening that goes beyond the glass.

We will be hosting a Great Bustard Talk that brings together the story of one of Britain’s most remarkable conservation efforts with the spirits it has inspired. You will hear how the Great Bustard returned to Salisbury Plain after nearly two centuries, what it takes to keep that progress moving. Then how the local botanicals and landscape shape what we produce in our spirits.

This is not a lecture. It is a relaxed, informal evening and a chance to see what happens behind the scenes.

On the night:

Guided tasting of our spirits, including Great Bustard Gin.
Insight into the reintroduction project and ongoing conservation work.
A few prizes up for grabs for those attending.

It is a chance to understand the link between land, wildlife, and what ends up in your glass.

We look forward to seeing you.





Spring has landed and everything feels lighter and brighter. The days lengthen, the garden stirs back into life, and you...
06/04/2026

Spring has landed and everything feels lighter and brighter. The days lengthen, the garden stirs back into life, and you can feel the change in the air.

Explorer’s Gin is made for this moment. Bright and clean, with citrus up front, fresh green notes behind it, and a gentle spice to carry it through. It reflects what is happening all around us. New growth, renewed energy, and a good reason to pause and enjoy a proper drink again.






To celebrate our Nocino’s recent wins, we created a Walnut Manhattan ❤️ for our cocktail of the month. It is a confident...
01/04/2026

To celebrate our Nocino’s recent wins, we created a Walnut Manhattan ❤️ for our cocktail of the month.

It is a confident twist on the classic.

50ml Bourbon Whiskey
25ml Vermouth di Torino
20ml Downton Nocino
3 Drops Angostura Bitters
Stirred over ice. Served short.

The result is rich, woody, and quietly powerful. The Nocino drives a layered profile of walnut, dark caramel, and spice. The bourbon brings warmth and structure. Bitters tie it together.

This is a drink for slower moments. It opens up as it sits. The walnut note gives it a nice edge with the vermouth providing earthy bitterness.

No garnish needed (I ate the walnuts). Let the liquid speak, evolution of a classic.



A young leveret tucked itself beneath the wormwood this afternoon, making the most of the early spring sun. Perfect cove...
31/03/2026

A young leveret tucked itself beneath the wormwood this afternoon, making the most of the early spring sun. Perfect cover. Warm soil. Still air. Exactly where it should be.

I nearly missed it.

My attempt at a quick 30 minute prune in the garden was less well received. One movement too many and it was gone in a flash. That tension between working the land and sharing it never disappears.

This is what a living garden looks like. Not neat. Not controlled. Constant negotiation.

As winter gives way, everything shifts. Growth returns. Wildlife pushes back in. You start to see who was there all along.

Good to know the garden is being used properly.

27/03/2026

The distillery garden has become one of the most satisfying parts of what we do. It began as an unloved patch and has grown into something far more useful. A living system that shifts and adapts week by week.

As the seasons turn, so does the cast. Some settle in, others pass through, most stay hidden. A few cameras are in place to catch what we can, although winter storms forced a rethink more than once.

There are familiar faces. Darcy the pheasant patrols with confidence. Harriet the hare caused early chaos, which led to a change in approach. Companion planting now keeps things in check, with less damage and more balance.

At night, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle takes over, working steadily through slugs and snails.

The water baths, feel like a private bar 🍻 and draw in wildlife from across the Downs.

You only ever see a fraction of it. It is always moving, always changing. This is just a glimpse. A good garden is not staged. It is alive. ❤️

Last July I was out picking and prepping local green walnuts, quietly hoping it would all come together into something d...
27/03/2026

Last July I was out picking and prepping local green walnuts, quietly hoping it would all come together into something decent.

It turns out it did more than that. After months of waiting and the usual hovering over every stage, the Nocino has picked up two Gold medals at the Concours International de Lyon on top of it's Great Taste Award.

Not bad for something that started life in a bucket of walnuts.

Part of the ritual is ending up with walnut tannins staining your hands. Good luck finding anything that shifts new tan.

It is rich, a little indulgent, and works brilliantly with cheese, poured into hot chocolate, or stirred into a Walnut Manhattan. A proper win for local produce and a bit of patience.



26/03/2026

A new resident has started to make itself known in the distillery garden, keeping low and slipping between the cedars and nettles along the fence line. You hear it before you ever see it. I managed to capture the song, but the image is a stock photo as the iPhone failed to catch it in time.

The Cetti’s warbler remains a scarce but steadily increasing species in the UK. Apparently they are flourishing, but first time I have seen them.

It favours dense, wet habitats, which makes its presence on the Downs unusual. The water baths and nearby ponds may be just enough to keep it in the area and add to our diversity.

Would love to know more about them.

This male juniper is rebuilding itself with real intent. Deer damage two years ago set it back hard, stopping any chance...
26/03/2026

This male juniper is rebuilding itself with real intent. Deer damage two years ago set it back hard, stopping any chance of rewilding at the time. Now it is responding well. Fresh green shoots are pushing along the stems, and clusters of pollen sacks are forming, a clear sign of renewed health. Its south facing position is working in its favour, giving it the warmth and light it needs to recover properly. It is not ready yet, but it is on the right path. Over the next couple of years, as it gains strength, we aim to move it into the juniper grove at Enford where it can take its place in the landscape.

Last night we gathered at Regent Tailoring for an evening focused on the conservation work led by David Waters and the r...
20/03/2026

Last night we gathered at Regent Tailoring for an evening focused on the conservation work led by David Waters and the return of the Great Bustard on the Wiltshire Downs.

It was a room full of interest, good questions, and genuine curiosity about how conservation can be supported through what we create and consume.

These talks matter. They connect people directly to the work happening on the ground and show that conservation is not abstract. It is active, measurable, and ongoing.

Alongside the talk, Regent also now holds a selection of our spirits and refill pouches. A step towards reducing waste while keeping quality front and centre.

Thank you to everyone who came along and took part in the conversation. And thank you to Regent Tailoring for backing both craftsmanship and conservation.




Pausing for a cup of tea to remind you about tomorrow at Regent Tailoring… but don’t get too comfortable, I won’t be ser...
18/03/2026

Pausing for a cup of tea to remind you about tomorrow at Regent Tailoring… but don’t get too comfortable, I won’t be serving tea, we’ll be talking Great Bustards and pouring gin instead.

Keep an eye out for the new Skull and Cross Bones flying above 73 New St, Salisbury SP1 2PH. From 18:30, we’ll be diving into the incredible story of the Great Bustard and its return to the Wiltshire Downs. It’s set to be a relaxed and engaging evening, exploring this remarkable bird, our local landscape, and a special “From Downs to Glass” journey — complete with Great Bustard Gin tasting and an open Q&A.

Whether you’re passionate about wildlife, curious about conservation, or simply up for a great evening (and a great gin), we’d love to see you there. Last chance to join us — don’t miss it!

Some prizes will be won!

17/03/2026

Great to be back at the judging table this year. I am looking forward to exploring a new wave of spirits, fresh ideas, and standout craftsmanship.

There was a slightly unconventional start. My samples took a detour like many others have had to suffer. That is a story for another time.

Now catching up properly and enjoying the class of 2026.

What am I looking for?

Address

Great Durnford Estate
Salisbury
SP46AY

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