The Cotswolds Distillery

Country: Warwickshire - England

Region: Warwickshire

The Cotswolds is full of rich history, stunning scenery, charming old towns and great hotels and dining. Everything but a working distillery... Until now.

Situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty famous for its horticultural heritage and set in five acres of beautiful Cotswolds countryside, our state-of-the-art distillation equipment is perfectly poised for the creation of our fine spirits.

Our Forsyths whisky stills have been custom made to our exacting standards, with the 500kg mash tun, 2,400l wash still, 1,600l spirit still and four 2,500l fermenters being able to produce over 100,000 bottles of our Cotswold Single Malt Whisky annually. Our Cotswolds Gin will be crafted using our tailor-made hybrid Holstein still. With a capacity of 500l, the possibilities are endless when it comes to acheiving superior quality and toying with new recipe development.

We believe that our distillery in Stourton, one of the most unspoilt villages in the Cotswolds, is the most beautiful in England. We built the distillery to mirror the beauty of our artisanal spirits, showcasing the rich agricultural terroir of the Cotswolds. We've also made a big investment in the beauty of our land, re-planting native trees, shrubs, flowers and even botanicals to be incorporated into our gin recipes.

Dan, living only a few fields away (and the rest of the team not much further), believes in being a valued member of our local community, committed to being as clean and green as possible, so we’re making certain that our production waste is recycled. The spent grains of barley from our mash go to feed our Cotswold cattle, and the other co-products created by our distilling process will be turned into biogas at a nearby anaerobic digester.

We’re located between the historic towns of Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon, only 80 miles from London and about 50 miles from Birmingham, perfectly situated to receive guests in our beautiful visitors centre and shop which is open Mon-Sat from 9am to 5pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm.

The Cotswolds Distillery Collection

Cotswolds London Dry Gin Price € 43.80

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Spirit notes:

Nose: fresh notes of grapefruit with earthy coriander backed-up by sweet juniper. Soft notes of black pepper with a hint of perfumed Cotswolds lavender.

Palate: clean, pine juniper spice with fresh grapefruit and coriander seed. A touch of dryness from the angelica root with eucalyptus notes from bay leaf. Subtle lime and lavender.

Finish: Clean and balanced. Juniper, citrus and some cooling notes from bay leaf and cardamom.

Technical notes:

Our Cotswolds Dry Gin has a delectable blend of nine carefully-considered botanicals.

The expression of the traditional London dry style comes from the maceration into our pure wheat spirit of juniper, coriander and angelica root, which have been left for 12 hours to allow their flavour characteristics to fully infuse.

We then add our unique botanical mix of Cotswolds lavender and bay leaf, grapefruit, lime, black pepper and cardamom seed into our bespoke Holstein pot still for distillation before finishing with naturally refined Cotswolds water.

The result is a classic well-balanced juniper-led gin with crisp citrus and spice. This gin is delicious on its own and over ice. It’s robust enough to stand up to tonic and smooth enough to craft the ultimate gin martini.

Alcohol content: 46%

Bottle sizes: 50 ml & 700 ml

Awards:

"World's Best London Dry Gin" - 2016 World Drinks Awards

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Cotswolds Ginger Gin Price € 58.30

A wonderfully spiced seasonal favourite

The Cotswolds Ginger Gin is a warming and spicy barrel-aged gin combining Cotswolds Dry Gin, American oak barrels, candied ginger and fresh orange peel. With notes of warm honey, spicy ginger and piney juniper, this spirited gin has an exceptional depth of flavour.

The finest ingredients

Candied ginger root and fresh Valencian sweet orange peel, soaked in our Cotswolds Dry Gin, which has been barrel aged. Sweetened with a touch of honey.

Lovingly crafted

We start with our Cotswolds Dry Gin. Distilled to 83% ABV, we dilute it to 65% ABV for casking – just the right strength to extract fantastic flavour and colour from the wood without drawing out the harsher notes. It goes into the same casks as our flagship Single Malt Whisky – first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and shaved, toasted and recharred red wine casks, where it matures for three months. We then add fresh sweet Valencian orange peel to the matured gin, and candied root ginger. These soak in the gin for several weeks, getting a good stir every few days. Finally, we add a touch of honey to sweeten and dilute to 46% ABV before bottling here at the distillery.

Tasting notes

Nose: Warm honey and sweet orange notes balance the fresh spicy ginger and piney juniper.

Palate: Incredibly rich and luxurious, the ginger warms everything through, with vanilla and red fruit notes from the casks.

Finish: A lovely long finish full of dry oak spice and ginger, with lots more honey.

Serving suggestions

This is a rich and warming sipping gin, perfect neat or over ice. The addition of a few drops of Angostura Bitters adds a delicious extra element, or for chillier winter evenings, try adding to warmed apple juice.

Alcohol content: 46% ABV

Bottle size: 500ml

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Cotswolds Old Tom Gin Price € 43.80

The Cotswolds Distillery version of an old classic

The Old Tom Gin is in keeping with a traditional Old Tom, and has sweet, woody notes from liquorice root, light spice from ginger, zesty orange citrus and a hint of cardamom.

The finest ingredients

We add juniper, coriander and angelica to our flavourless base spirit, together with fresh orange peel, liquorice root, ground ginger, caraway and cardamom.

Lovingly crafted

To make our Old Tom Gin, we add all of the botanicals to our 50-litre Holstein still, Valerie, along with 60% ABV ‘neutral grain spirit’, a base alcohol made from wheat which is completely flavourless. We then begin distillation, collecting only the purest part of the run known as the ‘hearts’, before adding a touch of sugar syrup in keeping with traditional Old Tom recipes and filtered water to bring the final bottling down to 42% ABV.

Tasting notes

Sweet, woody notes from liquorice root, balanced with light spice from the ginger, zesty orange citrus and rounded off with a hint of cardamom.

Serving suggestions

The Old Tom Gin can be enjoyed neat, garnished with fresh orange peel, or why not try a Tom Collins cocktail by adding lemon juice, soda and sugar syrup.

Bottle size: 700ml

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Cotswolds No. 1 Wildflower Gin Price € 43.80

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Inspired by the glorious grasslands of the Cotswolds.

The finest ingredients

The No.1 Wildflower Gin starts with a London Dry base featuring juniper, coriander and angelica, to which we add essences of cornflowers, lavender, orange and rhubarb root.

Tasting notes

Subtle floral notes reminiscent of summer meadows with fragrant orange blossom and soft piney juniper. On the palate the Wildflower gin is delicate, floral notes of lavender with sweet bursts of fresh orange. Finishing off with a refreshingly dry, clean and balanced with a lingering hint of bitter-sweet marmalade.

Lovingly crafted

The making of the No.1 Wildflower Gin beings by distilling a London Dry base which contains juniper, coriander and angelica root in a 500L Holstein still, Lorelei, taking only the purest part of the spirit run known as the ‘hearts’. Then blend the spirit with the finest essences of orange, lavender, cornflowers and rhubarb root before adding a touch of sugar syrup and filtered water to bring the final bottling down to 41.7% ABV.

Serving suggestions: The No.1 Wildflower Gin is delicious served as a spritz mixed with premium tonic and a slice of orange.

Bottle size: 700ml

Alcohol content: 41% ABV

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Cotswolds No. 2 Wildflower Gin € 43.80

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Inspired by the glorious grasslands of the Cotswolds.

The finest ingredients

Our No.2 Wildflower Gin starts with a London Dry base featuring juniper, coriander and angelica, to which we add essences of gentian, elderflower, chamomile, lemon balm and other select botanicals.

Tasting notes

Nose: Sherbet lemons and a sunny earthiness with a touch of pine and juniper.

Palate: Candied lemon rind, beautifully floral with a slightly drying hint of liquorice root. Balanced and bittersweet.

Finish: Delicate floral eucalyptus and bitterness remains.

Lovingly crafted

We begin making our No.2 Wildflower Gin by distilling a London Dry base, which contains juniper, coriander and angelica root, in our 500L Holstein still, taking only the purest part of the spirit run known as the ‘hearts’. We then blend the distilled spirit with the finest essences of gentian, elderflower, chamomile, lemon balm and other select botanicals before adding a touch of sugar syrup and filtered water to bring the final bottling down to 41.7% ABV.

Serving suggestions

Our No.2 Wildflower Gin is delicious served as a spritz mixed with premium tonic and a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint.

Bottle size: 700ml

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Cotswolds No. 3 Wildflower Gin € 43.80

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Inspired by the glorious grasslands of the Cotswolds.

The finest ingredients

Our No.3 Wildflower Gin starts with a London Dry base featuring juniper, coriander and angelica, to which we add essences of hand-picked genepi (Artemisia), mint, yarrow and other select botanicals.

Tasting notes

Nose: Piney juniper, candied lime and a touch of aniseed.

Palate: Herbaceous, zesty and beautifully complex with a refreshing mouthfeel.

Finish: Cooling with notes of aniseed and mint.

Lovingly crafted

We begin making our No.3 Wildflower Gin by distilling a London Dry base which contains juniper, coriander and angelica root in our 500L Holstein still, Lorelei, taking only the purest part of the spirit run known as the ‘hearts’. We then blend the spirit with the finest essences of genepi, mint, yarrow and other select botanicals before adding a touch of sugar syrup and filtered water to bring the final bottling down to 41.7% ABV.

Serving suggestions

Our No.3 Wildflower Gin is delicious served as a spritz mixed with premium tonic and a wedge of lime.

Bottle size; 700ml

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Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky Price € 53.40

The first single malt whisky ever distilled in the Cotswolds.

Tasting notes

Nose: Notes of honey and butterscotch layered with light fruits (peaches & apricots), a hint of marzipan.

Palate: Strong notes of tannin-rich malt, oils and dark sugar with lots of spice, caramelised Seville orange marmalade.

Finish: Long and resinous, with dark red fruits and a hint of treacle.

Carefully sourced ingredients

Malt: Odyssey. We are committed to using only barley grown in the Cotswolds, and the variety and farm on which it was grown are listed on the label of each bottle. We are one of a very small number of British whisky-makers to use 100% floor-malted barley. This comes to us from Britain’s oldest working maltings, in nearby Warminster. It is unpeated.

Yeast: Two complementary varieties - Anchor and Fermentis - to ensure good yields and excellent fruity flavours.

Water: Village water supply - filtered, softened and demineralised before use.

Wood: Premium first-fill Kentucky ex-bourbon 200-litre barrels and reconditioned American Oak 225-litre red wine casks that have been shaved, toasted and recharred.

Lovingly crafted

Using traditional production processes and equipment to produce our Cotswolds Single Malt. Locally-grown malted barley is milled and then mashed in our 0.5-tonne mash tun, mixing the milled grain with hot water to produce worts. Yeasts are then added. The fermentation is run for more than 90 hours in order to generate plenty of fruity flavour compounds alongside the alcohol produced.

Then the distillations begin. First, in the wash still (Mary), and a second in Janis, our spirit still. In the spirit run, we only select a small section – the heart cut – which is taken unusually early in the distillation to capture the fruity notes and avoid the heavier, rougher elements that appear at the end of the run. The end result is a light, colourless, fruity new make spirit. This is diluted to 63.5%ABV and put into casks to mature. This release has been aged for just over three years, and is bottled non-chill filtered, with no added colouring, at 46%ABV.

Serving suggestions

We don’t believe in rules when it comes to enjoying whisky – sip this neat, over ice, in a cocktail – however you like!

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Cotswolds Reserve Single Malt Whisky € 70.20

A wonderfully smooth and elegant single malt whisky.

Tasting notes

Nose: Light caramel, apple and vanilla with a touch of chocolate.

Palate: Toasted cereal with a sweet malt character.

Finish: A lingering finish with warm notes of wood tannin.

Carefully sourced ingredients

Malt: 100% locally grown, traditionally floor malted barley from the Cotswolds.

Yeast: Two complementary varieties - Anchor and Fermentis - to ensure good yields and excellent fruity flavours.

Water: Village water supply - filtered, softened and demineralised before use.

Wood: Premium first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and STR (Shaved, Toasted and Re-charred) American oak ex-red wine casks.

Lovingly crafted

We make our Cotswolds Reserve Single Malt Whisky in small batches, starting with 100% locally grown barley which is traditionally floor-malted by hand for several days at Warminster. The malt is brought to the distillery where it is milled on-site and mixed with hot water in our mash tun. We then add two yeast varieties to the sugary liquid and run the fermentation for over 90 hours in order to generate plenty of fruity flavour compounds alongside the alcohol produced. During distillation, we only select a small section of the spirit run which is taken unusually early to capture the fruity notes and avoid the heavier, rougher elements that appear at the end of the run. Our slow distillation and high cut point results in our signature rich and fruity new make spirit, which is already smooth enough to drink.

After being diluted to 63.5% ABV, our spirit is put into a combination of premium first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and STR ex-red wine casks for full term maturation. Once fully matured, we disgorge the casks before blending and bottling the whisky by hand here at the distillery at a ratio of 80:20 - 80% Bourbon and 20% STR. Our Cotswolds Reserve Single Malt Whisky is bottled at 50% ABV at its natural colour and is non-chill filtered for maximum flavour.

Serving suggestions

We don’t believe in rules when it comes to enjoying whisky – sip this neat, over ice, mixed with ginger ale, in a cocktail – however you like!

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Founders Choice Single Malt Whisky Price € 76.00

The first cask-strength release, from Dan’s favourite casks.

This cask strength release from the Cotswolds Distillery comes from our founder Dan's favourite casks: shaved, toasted and re-charred American Oak red wine barriques. These uniquely active casks give a rich and intense maturation to the distillery's fruity spirit, offering toffee, oak and red fruits, and a beautiful, deep colour.

Awarded 'Best English Single Malt' at the World Whiskies Awards 2019.

(All bottles come with a presentation box, packed separately to avoid damage in transit.)

Carefully sourced ingredients

Malt: Odyssey, grown on Cotswolds farms and floor-malted at Warminster Maltings.

Yeast: Two complementary varieties - Anchor and Fermentis - to ensure good yields and excellent fruity flavours.

Water: Village water supply - filtered, softened and demineralised before use.

Wood: Shaved, toasted and re-charred 225-litre American oak red wine barriques, made for us at the cooperage in Portugal in a process designed by the late Dr Jim Swan.

Lovingly crafted

The Founder’s Choice release begins with our new make spirit – creamy and incredibly fruity, thanks to the pair of yeasts, 90-hour fermentation and tight heart cut on the spirit still. We dilute to 63.5% ABV for casking, and then fill the American oak STR barriques.

These brilliant casks are designed to get the absolute best from the wood and provide the perfect conditions for maturing whisky. Dr Swan’s process opens up the wood, allowing for plenty of flavour and colour to be extracted. It also builds the perfect flavours in the oak – just enough influence from the original red wine, without overpowering the new make spirit, plenty of coconut and vanilla from the American oak, and deep toffee and caramel notes from the slow toasting and intense charring steps. It’s an extremely active maturation and gives a balance, depth of flavour and rich colour normally associated with much older whiskies.

Bottled at natural cask strength, non-chill filtered and with no added colouring.

Tasting notes

Nose: Dry hay and cut wood, with dark chocolate and dried figs, and plums in sweet syrup.

Palate: Warming cereal and toast notes, with lots of fresh red fruits and butterscotch.

Finish: Hints of spicy oak, lots of dried fruit and a lingering nutty, dry note.

Serving suggestions

We don’t believe in rules when it comes to enjoying whisky – sip this neat, over ice, in a cocktail – however you like!

Bottle size: 700ml

Alcohol content: 60.4% ABV

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Peated Cask Single Malt Whisky Price € 76.00

Rich and fruity with subtle notes of peat smoke

Cotswolds Peated Cask Single Malt Whisky is hand-crafted in small batches using 100% floor-malted local barley. Long fermentations and double pot distillation, followed by maturation in ex-peated quarter casks, create a wonderfully-balanced rich and fruity whisky with subtle notes of peat smoke. Bottled at cask strength.

(All bottles come with a presentation box, packed separately to avoid damage in transit.

Carefully sourced ingredients

Malt: Odyssey, grown on Cotswolds farms and floor-malted at Warminster Maltings.

Yeast: Two complementary varieties - Anchor and Fermentis - to ensure good yields and excellent fruity flavours.

Water: Village water supply - filtered, softened and demineralised before use.

Wood: Ex-peated quarter casks from Scotland.

Lovingly crafted

We began making this single malt using 100% locally grown, floor-malted barley which is mashed and then fermented for more than 90 hours before a double distillation in our bespoke copper pot stills, resulting in a light and fruity new-make spirit.

After being diluted to 63.5% ABV, we then filled ex-peated quarter casks from Scotland with the new-make spirit and left these to mature, allowing the rich and fruity spirit to take on a light smoked peat flavour. The whisky has been fully matured in these casks and bottled at cask strength (59.3% ABV), non-chill filtered and with no added colouring.

Tasting notes

Nose: Vanilla with light charring and a touch of dried fruits and spice.

Palate: Creamy peat smoke layered with light fruits and tannin-rich wood.

Finish: Lasting finish of smoking embers, floral honey and woody sugars.

Serving suggestions

We don’t believe in rules when it comes to enjoying whisky – sip this neat, over ice, in a cocktail – however you like!

Bottle size: 700ml

Alcohol content: 59.3% ABV

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Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky € 76.00

Cotswolds Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky 1

Rich and fruity with an incredible depth of flavour - the ultimate sherried whisky experience.

Tasting notes

Nose: Brown sugar and cherry pie with a touch of roasted coffee beans.

Palate: Viscous and rich. Full of dark stone fruits, chocolate and a hint of roasted almonds.

Finish: Peppery oak spice accompanied by notes of dried fruits.

Carefully sourced ingredients

Malt: Odyssey, grown entirely on Cotswolds farms and traditionally floor-malted at Warminster Maltings.

Yeast: Two complementary varieties - Anchor and Fermentis - to ensure good yields and excellent fruity flavours.

Water: Village water supply - filtered, softened and demineralised before use.

Wood: American and Spanish oak hogsheads and butts, seasoned with Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry.

Lovingly crafted

Our Sherry Cask expression begins with our new make spirit which is already incredibly smooth and fruity thanks to the pair of yeasts we use, the long 90-hour fermentation and the tight heart cut on the spirit still. We dilute it to 63.5% ABV before filling a combination of casks seasoned with Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez for full term maturation.

This is the only whisky in our Cask Expressions Range which has been blended across cask types, though all of them are sherry casks. Over the years we’ve aged our whisky in a variety of casks made from different woods (both Spanish and American oak), in different sizes (250-litre Hogsheads and 500-litre Butts) and seasoned with different wines (dry Oloroso and sweet Pedro Ximénez). Every year we create a blend from these various cask types with the aim of delivering the ultimate sherried whisky experience. Each batch will be unique, but will always be 100% matured in sherry casks.

Bottled non-chill filtered with only minimal proofing down for maximum flavour, without added colouring.

Serving suggestions

Best enjoyed on its own, but we don’t believe in rules when it comes to drinking whisky – sip this neat, over ice, in a cocktail – however you like!

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Cotswolds Cream Liqueur Price € 41.00

Guiltiest pleasure, this beats anything similar you’ve tried before

The finest ingredients

Our own new-make spirit (unaged whisky) distilled in our pot stills, blended with fresh cream.

Tasting notes

Surprisingly light and silky, the cream carries delicious vanilla and butterscotch notes, and a lovely hint of maltiness.

Lovingly crafted

We always dreamt of combining our single malt spirit with cream but didn't have the necessary equipment here at the distillery to do this to scale. So we searched far and wide until we found our wonderful partners in Tipperary (Ireland), home to some of the world's best cream liqueurs. These experts combine our Cotswolds single malt spirit with fresh Irish cream - helping us to offer a sensational product, with our single malt at its heart.

Serving suggestions

Chilled in the freezer just before serving, this is perfect as it comes. But we’ve been known to pour it over ice cream too…

Bottle size: 700ml

Alcohol content: 17% ABV