Downton Distillery becomes the first ever Spirits brand to be awarded Ethical Accreditation.

Downton Distillery, a nano distillery situated on the edge of the Cranborne Chase and Wiltshire Downs making a range of premium hand-crafted spirits, has become the first Spirits brand to ever be awarded The Good Shopping Guide’s Ethical Accreditation. We are delighted to welcome them into the fold and hope that they will lead the way for more Spirits producers to follow suit.

The spirits industry is full of unethical corporations which profit from exploitation and poor environmental practices, and our research criteria includes these factors when rating brands.  Downton Distillery is a small company with high environmental standards, which has led to them gaining Ethical Accreditation. See how they compare to other brands in our Ethical Ratings Table.

Downton Distillery produces two main spirits; Explorer’s Gin with its unique flavour references the ‘Golden Era of Discovery’, and is available to purchase in a refillable pouch reducing its carbon footprint by 97%, whilst the Chardonnay Vodka uses the crushed, organic, grapes from the wine harvest and its bottle is fully recycled.

The distillery’s use of organic grapes is far better for the environment as the use of pesticides in non-organic production can lead to biodiversity loss and soil degradation, as well as having a detrimental effect on the health of those working with them, and of consumers. It’s clear that sustainability is a core value for Downton Distillery, it uses green energy (from Octopus) and publishes specific figures on its carbon footprint for transport & operations. Downton also has a clean record on Nuclear Energy, Fossil Fuels, Animal Welfare, Political Donations, Armaments and Public Record Criticisms.

Downton Distillery also received a top rating in the Vegetarian/Vegan category, as its Chardonnay Vodka and Explorer’s Gin have been assessed and approved by The Good Shopping Guide. It may be surprising to learn that many flavoured spirits are not vegan, including ingredients such as milk or honey, so it’s important to check the label before buying.

The Good Shopping Guide offers its congratulations to Downton Distillery for its achievement! We hope to see many good things from the company in the future.