Posted on September 16, 2020
As an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the rolling hills of the Cotswolds provide the perfect location for artisan drink producers to grow and concoct tasty beverages to be enjoyed by locals, visitors and connoisseurs beyond the Cotswolds.
We've selected seven of our favourite drink brands that are born and bred in the heart of the Cotswolds. From whiskey distilleries to vineyards and breweries, we’re sure there's a perfect tipple for you to try from these wonderful brands.
Cotswolds Distillery
Home to the first full-scale distillery in the Cotswolds, Cotswolds Distillery was founded in 2014 and since 2019 has welcomed visitors to their site to drink, shop and even get a peek at their distilling process at work. The natural beauty of the Cotswolds inspires the whole operation as they use local ingredients, traditional processes and partner with local producers as much as possible.
Their flagship drink is the Cotswolds Single Malt, a rich, fruity sipping whisky with an exceptional depth of flavour due to the attention to detail in the distilling process and use of fine oak casks for the maturing process.
You can pick up a bottle of delicious Cotswolds Distillery whiskey or check out their selection of gin right here.
The Travelling Pub Company
Scott and Tally were owners of an award-winning Cotswold Inn in Burford, but after dipping their toes in the pop-up scene and falling in love with it, they sold the pub to bring The Travelling Pub Company to life.
Using their beautifully restored 1983 Bedford wooden horse box, The Travelling Pub Company is the first and most unique pub service in the pop-up bar industry. Collaborating with local drinks producers such as the Cotswold Brew Co for events, Scott and Tally care deeply about the services they offer and can brand the pop-up pub to fit any theme or colour scheme.
Find out where their next pop-up will be or for more information about booking the Travelling Pub Company for your event here.
Cotswold Brew Co
The Cotswold Brew Co is one of the oldest independent lager microbreweries in the UK and holds the most diverse portfolio of lagers that include six regularly brewed styles plus seasonal specials – all of which are distinctly different.
Their highly experience brewing team brew popular styles for all lager lovers, but also love to experiment and produce something more obscure every now and again to emphasise the 'lagering' process.
With more choice of lager than you've ever had, head on over to their website to pick up some bottles to sample. If you're intrigued by their exceptional brewing process, you can book onto one of their brewery tours on the website too.
Spirit of the Cotswolds
Gin has always been the first love of one the founders of the Cotswold Brew Co, Emma. In 2010 she finally called upon her brewing heritage and love of gin, and embarked on developing the Spirit of The Cotswolds gin and vodka.
Numerous tasting sessions later, the botanicals of choice create a distinctive taste that also encapsulates the family's brewing heritage and home in the Cotswolds. The vodka and gin are distilled from barley and feature juniper, coriander, oris root, lime, lemon peel, hops, hawthorn berries and verbena to form the key elements of the Spirit of The Cotswolds.
Whichever spirit may be your tipple of choice, you can pick up a bottle of the Spirit of The Cotswolds from their website.
Poulton Hill Estate
Founded in 2010, Poulton Hill Estate is home to over 8,800 vines which have been planted on its warm and sunny south-facing slopes.
Each year the vines produce up to 20,000 bottles of wine from grapes harvested by hand. The carefully selected grape varieties complement the Cotswolds' climate, geography and soil to create a fantastic range of wine from white Bacchus, Seyval Blanc and Phoenix to the red Pinot Noir, Regent and Rondo.
Their iconic drink is the Bulari, a new name for quality English sparkling wine and their English sparkling brut is a multi award-winning wine worth picking up for a special occasion!
You can pick peruse their bottles of white, red and rosé wine over on the Poulton Hill Estate website.
Woodchester Valley
Established in 2010, Woodchester Valley is a family owned boutique vineyard and winery in the South Cotswolds. Owning three vineyard sites totalling 45 acres in the Stroud valleys, Woodchester Valley produce a range of still white, rosé and sparkling wines from ten different grape varieties.
The grapes are handpicked and pressed lightly with a slow, cool fermentation that preserves the fruit characteristics of cool climate wines.
For real wine enthusiasts, Woodchester Valley hold virtual tastings as well as vineyard tours and events. Head on over to their website to find out more and why not order a bottle while you're there?
Yubberton Brewing Co
Yubberton Brewing Co was founded by pub owner Jim after taking the leap to achieve his dream of having his own beer.
A million nano brews later, Yubby bitter was born. The Yubberton Brewing Co gets its name from the original name for Ebrington - ‘Yubberton’. Locals still talk about going “up the Yubby” meaning the pub, so it made the perfect name for their first craft ale.
Completely organic, the Yubberton Brewing Co has upscaled to meet demand and now brews a portfolio of three craft beers, the original Yubby, Goldie and Yawnie from the Stroud Brewery. For details on how to order their beer to enjoy at home, or find a pub that serves Yubberton Brewing Co, check out their website.