Spirit of the Downs

Based at Bookers Vineyard in Bolney, East Sussex, we’re a small, hands-on distillery team who care deeply about what we make and how we make it.

We’re proud to work with some of Sussex’s leading vineyards, including Sugrue South Downs, Breaky Bottom and Plumpton College. After the grapes have been pressed for sparkling wine, we collect the leftover pomace and give it a second life. Rather than letting it go to waste, we turn it into our Sussex Brandies, Grape Vodka and Liqueurs, making the most of every part of the grape.

The pomace is fermented with champagne yeast and then carefully distilled. Our brandies are aged in English and French oak barrels, where they slowly develop depth, richness and character. We also use our Grape Spirit and Brandy as the base for our liqueurs, which gives them a distinctive, rounded flavour.

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. After fermentation, what’s left is returned to fertilise the orchard at Trenchmore Farm, completing a natural cycle. We power our still using solar energy as part of our commitment to keeping our footprint light.

Since we started, we’ve been fortunate to win 13 international awards, something we’re incredibly proud of as a small team, and a reflection of the care that goes into every bottle.