North Cotswolds: Farm Experiences at The Vodka Farm

Sheep milk becomes vodka, and it works. I love the close-up view of the milking parlour and the way the BLACKLION vodka tastes smooth and creamy. The only real downside is that the adults’ part includes tasting and a cocktail, so you’ll want to plan if you’re driving.

You’ll start at The Shepherd’s Hut Cafe, meet a live guide, and spend about 90 minutes moving through fields and farm buildings. The cocktail lesson with mixologist Pete Simpson keeps the energy up, and kids get their own mini animal visit plus a mocktail or milkshake.

Key things to know before you go

• Behind-the-scenes BLACKLION process: see how whey from sheep’s milk links to the vodka
• Milking parlour demonstrations: watch ewes being milked in a working dairy setup
• Cocktail making with Pete Simpson: learn a signature drink and then taste
• Adult tasting, with options: you’ll get samples too if you’re not drinking
• Kids are not stuck watching adults: they get a mini tour and a non-alcoholic drink
• Comfort matters: bring sturdy shoes, because you’ll be walking around farm areas

Sheep milk to vodka: the North Cotswolds idea

This tour is the kind of Cotswolds experience I like best, hands-on and practical, not just a look at pretty scenery. Here, the focus is a working sheep farm and how BLACKLION vodka starts with the daily rhythm of milking. You get the story, but you also get the senses: you’ll see the process and then taste the results.

What makes it especially interesting is the bridge between farming and spirits. Sheep milk is part of the setup, whey is part of the explanation, and the vodka is what ties it all together at the end of your walk.

Also, it is not a long commitment. At 90 minutes, it fits well into a weekend plan, even if you want time afterward for a pub lunch or a slower stroll.

Finding The Shepherd’s Hut Cafe and timing your 90 minutes

Your starting point is The Shepherd’s Hut Cafe in the main car park. Plan to arrive a little early so you can settle in and get briefed without stress.

Tours run on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with start times at 11:00 and 2:30. The experience itself is 90 minutes, so you are usually done before the rest of the day gets too busy.

If you’re traveling as a couple or small group, that timing is useful. You can pick the slot that matches your other plans, rather than losing half the day to a tour that drags.

In the milking parlour: meeting BLACKLION ewes up close

The heart of this visit is the close-up view of the milking process. You’ll meet the sheep, and you’ll watch the ewes being milked in the dairy parlour, which is one of those moments that makes the whole farm feel real.

I like farm tours that explain what you’re seeing instead of assuming you already know. Here, the guide walks you through what’s happening and why it matters, so you are not just standing there with a camera.

You’ll also move through the farm spaces, including fields and farm areas, so the tour feels like a working day rather than a staged show. One key thing to watch for is pacing. The milking parlour part is typically where people lean in for photos, and then the group moves on. Wear shoes you can trust on uneven ground.

The tour is also set up for a calm, animal-forward feel. In a review I read, the experience started with a meet-and-greet with a young Valais Blacknose lamb, and that sort of gentle beginning sets the tone. You might get a similar introduction to a lamb like Maeve, depending on what’s happening on the farm that day.

From whey to award-winning vodka: what the tour explains and why it matters

After you’ve seen the animals and the milking setup, the tour shifts to the science-light, story-rich part. You’ll learn how whey from the sheep’s milk is used in producing award-winning vodka. The guide doesn’t just toss out buzzwords. They connect the farm steps to the final spirit you’ll taste.

This matters because vodka can feel abstract. You might think of it as something made in a big, distant facility. Here, the connection is tangible. You can look at the farm routine first, then connect it to why the product has a particular character.

You also get the tasting itself as part of the main flow. Sampling the BLACKLION vodka is the payoff, and it’s not just a sip for show. The goal is to help you notice texture and flavor enough that you can actually tell the difference between a drink you tried and a drink you enjoyed.

In at least one review, the vodka was described as smooth and creamy, and I’d treat that as a clue. If you tend to like vodkas that feel less harsh and more rounded, this is a good match.

Cocktail making with mixologist Pete Simpson: learn, sip, and repeat

Adults get more than a tasting. You’ll join a cocktail making session with resident mixologist Pete Simpson, and he teaches you how to make a signature cocktail tied to the BLACKLION recipes.

I like this format for two reasons. First, it turns the tour from passive to active, so your brain stays engaged. Second, you leave with a repeatable drink idea, not just a memory and a bottle you can’t quite replicate.

Pete Simpson’s role is a big deal here. You’re not just getting a pour and a recipe card. You’re learning the drink in a guided way, and he shares secrets behind what makes the recipe work.

If you’re the designated driver, don’t assume you’ll get left out. The tour provides samples even for those not drinking or driving, and the non-drinking option is built into the experience rather than treated like an afterthought.

Bottom line: you’re getting a farm story, a tasting, and then a hands-on cocktail skill, all wrapped into one 90-minute block. That’s a lot of value in a short time.

Kids get their own mini farm circuit, plus a mocktail or milkshake

The tour is designed for families, with a separate mini tour for children. While adults focus on vodka and tasting, kids meet other farm animals and get their own short animal time, so they are not stuck standing around.

They also get a special non-alcoholic drink, either a Sheafhouse mocktail or a milkshake. That detail may sound small, but it’s a smart way to make kids feel included and make the whole thing run smoother.

There is an age limit: it’s not suitable for children under 5 years. So if you’ve got a preschooler, check your plans carefully before you book.

Also, bring weather-appropriate clothing. Farms are outdoors, and you’ll be walking a bit, even if the core activities are in farm buildings and the parlour.

Practical tips: shoes, weather, and who this suits best

This is a working farm setting, so plan for real ground and real movement. Bring comfortable shoes you can walk in confidently, especially near farm areas that can be uneven or slightly muddy after rain.

Dress for the weather. North Cotswold days can shift quickly, and you’ll spend time outdoors between stops.

Wheelchair accessible is listed as a feature, which is great news if you use a mobility aid. Since this is a guided farm route, it can still be helpful to plan ahead for how your group handles short distances and any ground changes.

Who it fits best:

• Couples who like unusual, food-and-drink experiences
• Families with kids age 5 and up who want animal time
• Anyone curious about how farm products translate into spirits
• People who want a structured experience without a full day commitment

Who might find it less ideal:

• Very young children under 5 (this one is not suitable)
• Anyone who does not want any alcohol involvement at all, since the adults tasting and cocktail making are central parts of the tour

Price and value: does $31 make sense for 90 minutes?

At about $31 per person, the math looks fair when you tally what’s included. You get a farm tour, a vodka tasting, a cocktail making session, and for children, a mini tour plus a mocktail or milkshake. It is not just a walk through a display room.

The value also comes from variety. In one trip, you’re doing farm viewing, learning a production link between whey and vodka, tasting the spirit, and then making a cocktail. That mix is hard to replicate piecemeal without paying for separate tastings and separate attractions.

There’s also an intangible value: the guide time. A live guide matters when the tour is about process, not just sights. You’ll get answers as you go, instead of trying to figure things out on your own later.

If you’re deciding between this and a traditional museum-style activity, choose this if you want something active, a little hands-on, and genuinely tied to a working place.

Should you book The Vodka Farm experience?

If you like your holidays a bit unusual, this is an easy recommendation. The combination of milking parlour access, a real production explanation, and a guided tasting plus cocktail lesson makes it feel like more than a one-note gimmick.

Book it if:

• You want an authentic farm-meets-drink day in the North Cotswolds
• You’re excited by the BLACKLION story and want to taste for yourself
• Your kids are age 5 or older and will enjoy a short animal-focused mini tour

Skip it if:

• You’re traveling with a child under 5
• You do not want to be around any alcohol-focused activity at all

If your plan is to experience the Cotswolds in a way that feels hands-on and practical, this is a strong bet.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the tour?

Meet at The Shepherd’s Hut Cafe in the main car park.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts 90 minutes.

What days and times are tours available?

Tours are available on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Start times are 11:00am and 2:30pm.

What’s included for adults?

Adults can join the behind-the-scenes farm tour, take part in a vodka tasting, and do a cocktail making session with the resident mixologist Pete Simpson.

What do kids do during the tour?

Children get a mini tour to meet other animals and enjoy a special Sheafhouse mocktail or milkshake.

Is it okay if I’m not drinking or I’m driving?

Samples are provided for those not drinking or driving, and you can take part in the tasting and experience with that in mind.