Taste Cotswolds Dry Gin at the UK’s Prettiest Gin Distillery
The Cotswolds Distillery, near Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire
On an idyllic farm in the North Cotswolds surrounded by beautiful Warwickshire countryside, exciting things are happening with gin and whisky at this state-of-the-art boutique distillery.
The Cotswolds Distillery near Shipston-On-Stour. Photo: Cotswolds Distillery
For a taste of gin in a peaceful rural setting far away from the hustle and bustle of the city, come to this very pretty and shiny new distillery housed in a traditional Cotswold stone building.
Take a tour and tasting or pop in and visit the shop (more like a lovely living room in a Cotswolds home) where you can relax in front of the cosy log fire and enjoy a tipple.
The Cotswolds Distillery
The Cotswolds Distillery was established in 2014 and located between the historic towns of Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon. It may be small but it has a big vision and takes great pride in its natural surroundings and fine local ingredients. It has adopted artisanal small-batch production techniques to make a London dry style gin with a Cotswolds twist; a single malt whisky; a Cotswolds Calvados; as well as eaux de vies.
Tour the Distillery
The distillery tour will introduce you to the craft of creating both gin and whisky. You’ll see the distillation equipment in action. The copper pot whisky stills which come from Scotland are able to produce over 100,000 bottles of Single Malt Whisky each year.
Taste Cotswolds Dry Gin
After the tour, enjoy a tasting session. Many of the botanicals used in the distillation of gin are grown locally. Using the help of an expert botanist, they identified Cotswolds lavender and bay leaf to give the gin a unique flavour along with juniper, coriander, angelica root, grapefruit, lime, black pepper and cardamom seed. To create maximum flavour, they use fresh citrus peel instead of dried and retain as much oil as possible in the distillation process producing a gin that goes cloudy when you add tonic water to it. You’ll taste ‘clean, pine spice from the juniper, light mineral and eucalyptus notes from the bay leaf before subtle notes of lime and lavender’.
Fill Your Own Cask of Whisky
Whisky-lovers can fill up their own cask and stop by for a tasting every year to see how it’s maturing. When you give them the nod, the distillery will bottle it for you (you can even add your own label). The whisky will be unpeated and is being matured in bourbon, sherry and wine casks in a warehouse in Liverpool.
- It’s advisable to pre-book tours (Children aged 8-17 can take the tour but must be accompanied by an adult)
- To see Cotswolds lavender flowering in its full glory, visit The Cotswold Lavender Farm at Snowshill
Mr Hendricks says, “They tell me they are very sorry but they only accept Guide Dogs”.
How to Find Cotswolds Distillery
The Cotswolds Distillery, Phillip’s Field, Whichford Road, Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, CV36 5HG
The Cotswolds Distillery
The Foodie Travel Guide
Sally is the founder and editor of The Foodie Travel Guide. She travels around the UK and beyond in search of the best foodie days out, tasting experiences and delicious places to stay. She loves a glass of English sparkling wine, afternoon tea with friends and escaping London for gastronomic adventures.
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