DOWNTON DISPATCHES

Our Explorer of the month is unknown to many people considering her legendary exploits in Arabia. Gertrude Bell was a writer, traveller, political officer, administrator, and archaeologist who explored, mapped,...

Our adventurer of the month was a pioneer of flight, she amongst other female pilots led a blazing trail through the golden age of aviation. She was meant to have...

300 years after Raleigh tried to find El Dorado, Percy Fawcett set out to find a different city, a city that he called 'Z'.  Steven Spielberg & George Lucas based...

HISTORY OF RHUBARB Rhubarb originated from Asia, reaching Europe (in the ports of Turkey) via the Silk Road in the early 14th Century. Back then, it was valued more than...

Over the last couple of years, the spirits and food industries have seen a major shift in consumerism as people have become aware of their food intolerances and the rise...

Christmas is appearing once more on the horizon and with the season comes the parade of gin filled advent calendars, all vying for your attention. This year we have teamed...

On 11th November each year, at 11.00hrs two minutes silence is given up from our busy lives to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for all that we...

Last week I received a call, it was a cold call, nothing new there. The lady who I spoke to sounded very nice and pleasant. Her manners were impeccable, and...

Earlier this year we switched our focus from making gin to creating hand sanitiser for our local communities. This switch saw the distillery support local front-line services, schools, care homes,...

Over the last month the wonderful duo of Sally and Lloyd of the Christchurch Confectioner have been showcasing regional and local micro distilleries. Their reviews discuss the heritage, terroir, botanicals...

On Sunday Downton Distillery alongside hundreds of other small businesses submitted their tweet. This was no normal tweet, this was going out to Dragon Den Star Theo Paphitis and into...

On World Gin Day ‘Just Luxe’ a luxury lifestyle magazine published their review of the most innovative and interesting gins in the global market. Having been included in their review...

At Downton Distillery we are always looking at improving our carbon footprint and improve our sustainability. As improvements are made any savings that we can offer will always be passed...

James Bond 007 ordered his first Martini in Goldfinger written in 1964, but the following year he ordered a Pink Gin in ‘The Man with the Golden Gun.’ This type...

Explorer's Gin was 'Gin of the Week' with the Gin Guide at the start of May. This was hot of the back of the Gin Guide Awards where Explorer's was...

Over the last couple of months it has been wonderful to see how different sectors have come together for the greater good of both their communities and supporting the front...

BBC Article - by Stephanie Hegarty Population correspondent. Shelves all over the world are empty, there's slim pickings online and the few suppliers that are selling are pricing at way...

This was published on Gin Foundry With the promise of Spring budding on every tree branch (not that we can get to with all the self isolation) and the interminable...

I received a couple of enquiries about using ‘Whisky’ as an option for hand sanitiser, I would normally have said ‘no’. However, some research has just come to light over...

The new coronavirus (Covid-19) is spreading very quickly and everyone is susceptible to the pandemic. In attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus we’re being told to wash our hands more, preferably...

Winter is nearly over with Spring beginning to creep around the corner. Daffodils and Snowdrops are burgeoning finally providing colour to what has been a very damp and grey landscape....

The annual Chinese New Year celebration starts on 25 Jan 2020 when the Year of the Rat begins, the animal is seen as a sign of wealth and surplus in Chinese...

Early in December Karen Gardener from BBC Wiltshire interviewed Hugh at the Salisbury Christmas market. Having tried Explorer's Gin, she was keen to learn more about Downton Distillery and what...

We are proud to be using some of the beautiful images of Wiltshire that local photographer Chris Lock has taken. He has been taking pictures of the Wiltshire landscape for...