Cotswolds Distillery – Lovingly Crafted Whisky, Gin & Liqueurs

Nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Cotswolds Distillery has been lovingly crafting delicious, award-winning spirits since 2014. Everything they make, from single malt whiskies to gins and liqueurs, is about quality and flavour.

Having previously worked alongside Cotswold Distillery, Highgrove Gardens has special releases of single malt whisky and vatting whisky with Cotswolds Distillery, available online and in-store, to mark His Majesty The King Charles III’s Coronation and 75th birthday.

In October 2024, Cotswold Distillery collaborated with Highgrove Gardens again to release the 'Royal Gardens' Edition Single Malt Whisky. Limited to just 400 bottles, this special edition whisky has been created from a unique vatting of Cotswolds Distillery single malt whisky made using heritage Plumage Archer barley grown at the Highgrove Estate. Each bottle is numbered and packaged beautifully in a box adorned with a watercolour of The South Front of Highgrove House.

Highgrove Coronation Whisky in a Bespoke Gift Box

Highgrove Estate King's 75th Birthday Vatting Whisky

Highgrove 'Royal Gardens' Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky

Founded from a love for whisky

Born and bred in the bustling streets of New York, Daniel Szor's love for whisky was as strong as the towering skyscrapers surrounding him. However, destiny called him across the pond to the picturesque Cotswolds, where he fused his passion for the golden nectar with an unyielding desire to build something truly unique.

As he gazed upon the rolling fields of barley that blanketed his new home, Daniel knew that he had stumbled upon an opportunity that was too good to pass up. Without hesitation, he set out to be the first to distil this abundant local crop, igniting a spark that would eventually lead to the creation of Cotswolds Distillery.

Undeterred by the challenges ahead, Daniel rolled up his sleeves and set to work building a distillery from the ground up. Armed with a wealth of knowledge and a team of experts by his side, he spared no effort in perfecting every aspect of the distillation process, determined to create a spirit that was unlike any other.

Through sheer grit and determination, Cotswolds Distillery rose from the ashes of a forgotten site, a testament to one man's indomitable spirit and his unwavering commitment to his craft.

Distilling gin, liqueurs and whisky

From those humble beginnings, Cotswolds Distillery has bloomed into a cornucopia of delicious spirits, boasting a dazzling array of gins, liqueurs, and, of course, whisky.

At the heart of their collection lies the world-renowned Cotswolds Dry Gin, a masterpiece that took years of experimentation to perfect. With no less than 150 botanical spirits at their disposal, the distillers crafted an intricate symphony of flavours, blending and balancing each element with the utmost care.

But that was just the beginning. In October of 2017, Cotswolds Distillery unleashed their crowning achievement upon the world: the Cotswolds Signature Single Malt Whisky, the very first of its kind to be distilled in the Cotswolds. The rich and complex flavour profile was an instant hit, cementing the distillery's place in the annals of whisky history.

Since that fateful day, Cotswolds Distillery has continued to push the boundaries of what's possible with their single malt whiskies, crafting an exquisite range of cask expressions and single cask releases. Each one has been meticulously hand-picked, imbued with its own unique character and story, and eagerly awaits the discerning palate of whisky lovers around the world.

Q&A with Cotswolds Distillery Founder, Dan: Highgrove Coronation Whisky

Where was the Highgrove Coronation Whisky distilled, matured, and bottled?
"Right here at our distillery in the beautiful North Cotswolds, using Cotswolds-grown barley, we truly are Cotswolds grain to glass."

How many bottles of the special release whisky are being produced?
"This is a single cask release of just 340 bottles."

What type of cask was used to mature the whisky?
"This release was matured in our favourite ex-red wine STR shaved, toasted, and re-charred barriques. These highly active casks were created by our mentor and renowned whisky consultant, the late Dr.Jim Swan, and give a rich and intense maturation to our fruity new-make spirit, offering strong notes of toffee, chocolate, and red fruits as well as a beautiful, deep colour."

What was the reasoning behind using Plumage Archer barley from Highgrove?
"I first heard about Plumage Archer from our maltsters at Warminster Maltings. Not only are they the oldest working maltings in the UK, but they are also the ones who first developed Plumage Archer, the first-ever variety of malting barley specifically optimised for brewing and distilling, back in 1906. I mentioned my interest in heritage grains and what a pity it was that Plumage Archer malt was no longer available, at which point they told me that the breed was indeed alive and well and living in Highgrove! This led me to contact David Wilson, Highgrove’s Farm Manager, in the spring of 2017. David confirmed he had a significant tonnage from the 2016 harvest available, which could be malted for us at Warminster. The price was quite high, and the alcohol yield was rather low compared with more modern varieties of malting barley, but it had a distinct and wonderful aroma when it was mashed (milled into grist and mixed with hot water). Our distillers referred to the aroma as reminding them of hot popcorn—certainly a lovely image and very supportive of our decision to try this heritage grain."

What makes heritage grains so unique?
"Heritage grains are like a time capsule, offering us a glimpse back to a period when agriculture was not as intensive as it is today. While Plumage Archer’s development certainly marked a milestone in the road to better yields and more disease and pest-resistant barley, this quest was still in its early years and not as developed as it is today, to a point where the importance of flavour seems almost an afterthought. We hope to continue exploring different varieties of grain as part of a search for better flavour, even if it means lower yields, and we’re very excited with this first-ever release from our Plumage Archer stocks."

How will you be enjoying this release to mark the Coronation?
"I plan to celebrate with a small group of friends with whom I look forward to sharing this very special whisky, sipped neat in a long-stemmed Copita glass, which allows one to maximise all of the wonderful aromas."

High-quality crafting

At Cotswolds Distillery, they believe in the power of tradition, using time-honoured methods to craft their spirits with care and precision. But they also believe in looking to the future, infusing each creation with a fresh attitude and an unyielding dedication to quality.

With the finest raw ingredients at their disposal, sourced from the verdant lands that surround them, and state-of-the-art equipment that has been carefully selected for its unrivalled performance, the distillery is able to create spirits that are truly unparalleled in their excellence.

From the moment the first drop falls into the barrel to the instant it's poured into a glass, every step of the process is handled with the utmost care and attention to detail. And the result is always the same: a whisky that is of the highest possible quality, bursting with flavour and character, and crafted with the passion and expertise that have made Cotswolds Distillery a household name.

The sale of highgrove products, garden tours and events support the charitable work of the kings foundation.