We Sipped Cocktails at the Real Downton Abbey — Go Inside a Party at Highclere Castle (Exclusive)

In the home of the imaginary Downton Abbey during the height of the COVID pandemic, the real lady of the house enjoyed sharing a new concept: Virtual Cocktail Hour with tens of thousands of online guests.

On September 19, as the sun set on a late summer day, Lady Carnarvon — or ‘Lady C’ as her staff affectionately call her — and her husband Lord Carnarvon hosted guests at the stately home, which doubles as a TV location.

Highclere House, about 65 miles west of London, is the setting for the popular TV and film franchise and will be re-imagined with a third film out next September. But on this night, it was a chance to get a sense of how the 17th-century castle entertains today – and a sniff of what it might have been like in centuries past.

Brandyn Shaw and his orchestra at a party in the library at Highclere Castle, September 2024.

Highclere Castle Gin

Similar to Downton AbbeyA fictional butler named Mr. Carson, Luis Coelho of Highclere, mixed and poured cocktails in the great hall. Highclere Castle’s own brand of gin was celebrated at a special evening party.

On full display was the Lavender Lady cocktail with Highclere gin, Coehlo-inspired lavender syrup, aquafaba and lemon juice. Brit 75 also impressed. The drink was made from gin steeped in butterfly pea flowers, which gave it a lilac color. A little lemon juice and sparkling wine (from Highclere, obviously!) made it bubbly.

The drink menu also included a classic gin and tonic with a distinctive sprig of rosemary and a Negroni.

“A few years ago, 80,000 people watched us drink cocktails, dressing up to join us online,” Lady Carnarvon said proudly. “There are about 80 of them here today.”

Since those virtual parties, the gin brand has thrived in the niche gin market, using botanicals from an orangery in a stately home’s garden or tapping into history to create new versions.

Cocktails on offer at Highclere Castle during the evening in September 2024.

Highclere Castle Gin

The house’s library, which boasts more than 250 rooms, features relaxed, candid family photos and portraits of the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip that served to emphasize the couple’s ties to the British royal family (Lord Carnarvon was Queen Elizabeth’s godson).

Serving up musical accompaniment to post-World War II favorites, Brandyn Shaw and his orchestra performed at the far end of the library.

Queen Elizabeth’s godson (and actual owner of ‘Downton Abbey’) is creating a new gin just in time for the holidays

As he looked around the great room, Lord Carnarvon told the guests: “My family was a great entertainer here. Can you imagine the house parties thrown by the 5th Earl? Then there would be plenty of gin cocktails.”

Luis Coehlo and his cocktails at Highclere Castle, September 2024.

Highclere Castle Gin

Royal families, statesmen and greats of literature and music have passed through the doors. But the show that made Highclere Castle famous to viewers around the world is visible in several rooms. Photos from Downton Abbey scenes starring Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern and Michelle Dockery were staged on easels in the library, drawing room and hallway so visitors could see where the fictional drama took place.

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Lord Carnarvon and co-founder of Highclere Castle Gin, Adam von Gootkin at Highclere Castle, September 2024.

Highclere Castle Gin

They recently said goodbye to Downton Abbey team – 12 weeks of location shooting has been completed and the film is now in the next phase of production ahead of a September 2025 release.

Like millions of fans, Lady C said she is anxiously waiting to see how the story unfolds.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education