'The results are remarkable, with an intensity and delicacy that is hard to convey on paper. What Wilczak is doing seems closer to perfumery than distillation as we understand or usually experience it.’ Ian Buxton

Finely formed valleys, coppiced woodland, breathtaking wildflower meadows and golden limestone form a backdrop of immense beauty to this small distillery tucked away in the heart of the Cotswolds. 

Raised in these surroundings, Barney Wilczak has led a life entwined in the magic of this most idyllic of landscapes. As a photographer he has spent his career focusing on conservation stories. This has led to the supply of non profit media to conservationists in over 118 countries.

This high level of focus on the natural world, biology and artistic expression, also guided  his pursuits outside of this field. The fascination of guiding fermentation, working with natural biological processes, led to years of pursuing perfection in fruit distillates. Deep research and an obsessive focus have led to the distillation of Eaux de Vie that have never been seen on these shores before.

After long planning it was chosen to create a distillery in the house where Barney grew up. The old lean to greenhouse, a frame of timber and Cotswold stone, was converted to house first one and then two very special custom built stills. Every aspect was chosen to preserve the fruits elegance and quality that exists for just a few days.

‘Mind blown open…”
Jan Konetzki, Sommelier

The experience and focus surrounding his work with fruit distillation led to a desire to create a gin of effortless complexity. Hundreds of test distillations, explorations of individual species and the best way to extract their unique perfume, led to the creation of Garden Swift, its name is drawn from an exquisite day flying moth and another night flying inhabitant. Homegrown and wild species enrich a palate of 34 botanicals. A secret recipe whose result varies with the weather, the distillers mood and the seasons effects on the ingredients, it is something to savour and experience in its flux and evolution. 

The production of such wonderful products is a costly pursuit without compromise. Reflecting this our gin and Eaux de Vie are hand bottled and finished with traditionally printed letterpress labels. Our packaging design is only trusted to family (getitsorted.org) and hand fed letterpress printing to Andrew Morrison (twowoodpress.co.uk), the father of Barney's partner, and our friends at Blush Publishing.

And the origin of the name of our distillery? Capreolus comes from the latin name of the most beautiful of all deer, the roe, Capreolus Capreolus. Delicate, slipping away, this animal is a constant accompaniment to picking in the surrounding countryside, a reminder of the fleeting nature of what we are trying to preserve. 

We regret that we cannot offer more of our wonderful products, quality dictates.