Chase Distillery#Chase Gin
{{short description|British single-estate distillery}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Chase Distilery, Ltd
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| type = Private company limited by shares
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| industry = Distillery
| founded = 2008
| founder = William Chase
| hq_location = Chase Farm
| hq_location_city = Rosemaund, Preston Wynne, Herefordshire
| hq_location_country = United Kingdom
| coordinates =
| area_served = World Wide
| key_people = William Chase
| brands = Chase vodka
Chase GB Extra Dry Gin
Williams Elegant Gin
Willy's Cider
| production = 10,000 (bottles per week)
| production_year = February 2016
| owner = William Chase
| website = {{URL|chasedistillery.co.uk/}}
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Chase Distillery, Ltd. was a British single-estate distillery based at Chase Farm in Preston Wynne, Herefordshire, United Kingdom. William Chase, the former owner and founder of Tyrrells crisps,{{cite news|url=http://www.marketingdonut.co.uk/marketing/marketing-strategy/branding/how-i-created-the-world-s-best-vodka-from-my-potato-farm-in-herefordshire|title=How I created the world's best vodka from my potato farm in Herefordshire|last=Miller|first=Rachel|work=The Marketing Donut|accessdate=26 May 2016}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-35491792|title=The potato farmer who swapped bankruptcy for making millions|last=Smale|first=Will|date=8 February 2016|publisher=BBC|accessdate=26 May 2016}} founded the family-run business in 2008. Using ingredients sourced on-site at Rosemaund Farm, the distillery focuses its production on potato vodka, gin and cider.
Chase Distillery won the "Best Vodka Award" at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2010 for its Chase vodka.
The distillery was acquired by Diageo in 2021. The Chase Distillery site in Herefordshire was closed in January 2025 with production moving to Cameronbridge distillery in Fife, Scotland.[https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2025/01/diageo-shuts-chase-distillery-to-future-proof-the-brand/ Diageo shuts Chase Distillery to ‘future proof’ the brand]
Company history
On a trip to the US in 2004, Chase realised that he could use his potatoes to produce vodka. With this realisation, he decided to convert one of his barns into a distillery and purchase a large still. The first harvest occurred on 1 April 2008 and the first batch of vodka was produced in June of the same year.Arnott, Sarah, "From posh crisps to best potato vodka", The Independent, 6 January 2011 In late 2008, the company expanded its production to include gin. Today, Chase Distillery exports its products to 36 countries around the world, and since February 2016, it sells an average of 10,000 bottles per week.{{cite news|url=http://www.bqlive.co.uk/2016/02/05/chase-distillery-lands-china-deal/|title=Chase Distillery lands China deal |last=Wilcock|first=Bryce|date=5 February 2016|work=Business Quarter|accessdate=26 May 2016}}
On 26 October 2020 Diageo released a communication that it had acquired Chase Distillery.{{Cite web
|url=https://www.diageo.com/en/news-and-media/press-releases/diageo-to-acquire-chase-distillery/ |title=Diageo to acquire Chase Distillery |publisher=Diageo |access-date=15 February 2021}}
Production
=Single-estate distillery=
As a single-estate distillery,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-family-behind-the-tyrrells-crisps-brand-has-found-a-new-use-for-its-potatoes-artisan-vodka-10102420.html|title=The family behind the Tyrrells crisps brand has found a new use for its potatoes – artisan vodka|last=Williams|first=Holly|date=15 March 2015|work=The Independent|accessdate=26 May 2016}} all spirits produced by Chase Distillery are made using home-grown ingredients.{{cite news|url=http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/chase-distillery-marks-eighth-birthday-with-san-francisco-double-gold/533969.article|title=Chase Distillery marks eighth birthday with San Francisco double gold|last=Lyons|first=Matthew|date=30 March 2016|publisher=Harpers.co.uk|accessdate=26 May 2016}} Chase Vodka, for example, is made from King Edward and Lady Claire potatoes sourced straight from Rosemaund Farm. Williams Gin is made from the fermentation of organic cider apples grown in the on-site orchard.{{cite news|url=http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/03/top-10-single-estate-spirits/|title=Top 10 'single estate' spirits|last=Hopkins|first=Amy|date=5 March 2015|work=The Spirits Business|accessdate=26 May 2016}}
=Chase Vodka=
Chase Vodka (40% abvDavies, Alex, "A Day in the Life Of…" FOUR, 30 January 2014) is the only potato-based vodka produced in England. In 2010, it won "Best Vodka Award" at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/jun/11/vodka-english-voted-best-world|title=Vodka from English crispmaker's farm voted best in the world|last=Morris|first=Steven|date=11 June 2010|work=The Guardian|accessdate=5 August 2010}}
Other vodka products made by Chase Distillery include:
- Naked Chase Apple Vodka (42% abv){{cite news|url=http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/14256874.Herefordshire_vodka_and_gin_will_be_for_sale_in_China|title=Chase Distillery in Preston Wynne secures China export deal|last=Caine|first=Rebecca|date=5 February 2015|work=Hereford Times|accessdate=26 May 2016}}
- Marmalade Vodka (40% abv)
- Chase Rhubarb Vodka (40% abv)
- Chase Smoked Vodka (40% abv)
- Chase Brandy Cask Aged Vodka (40% abv)
=Chase Gin=
Introduced in 2008, both Chase GB & Williams Elegant Gin is the UK's only single-estate gin. Its two main variants are Williams Elegant Gin (48% abv) and Chase GB Extra Dry Gin (40% abv). In 2013, it was named one of The Daily Telegraph's "best new gins".
First produced in 2008, Williams Elegant Gin is a clear, non-vintage, un-aged gin distilled from apple spirits. It contains a blend of 11 botanicals, including juniper, coriander seeds, liquorice, lemon and orange peels, hops, elderflower and Bramley apples, among others. Launched in Spain in 2012, Chase GB Extra Dry Gin uses Chase Vodka as its base.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/rebecca-williams/williams-chase-gin-the-distillery-tour_b_4845949.html|title=Williams Chase Gin: The Distillery Tour|last=Williams|first=Rebecca|date=25 February 2014|work=HuffPost|accessdate=26 May 2016}} To create the gin, the vodka is infused with juniper buds and berries, along with 10 botanicals including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, almond, coriander, liquorice and lemon. In 2016, it won a Double Gold Award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Other gin products made by Chase Distillery include:
=Maison Williams Chase Wines=
Since 2012 Chase Distillery has also been producing wines at Chateau Constantin, a {{convert|40|ha|adj=on}} estate near Aix-en-Provence, France.{{cite news|url=http://www.harpers.co.uk/news/chase-to-make-biodynamic-wine-and-vermouth-in-provence/346859.article|title=Chase to make biodynamic wine and vermouth in Provence|last=Kearns|first=Emily|date=16 May 2013|work=Harpers|accessdate=26 May 2016}}
Willy's Cider,{{cite web | url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2015/01/wonky-willys-cider-complaint-dismissed/ | title='Wonky' Willy's Cider Complaint rejected | first=Lauren | last=Eads | date=16 January 2015 | accessdate=2 August 2016 | publisher=The Drinks Business}} first produced in 2009, serves as the base for Williams Gins and has been bottled as a product in its own right since 2013. The distillery also produces Willy's Cider Apple Sours.{{cite web | url=https://thechampagnecompany.com/products/willys-cider-apple-sours-second-batch-limited-edition-75cl | title=Willy's Cider Apple Sours Second Batch limited edition 75CL | publisher=The Champagne Company | accessdate=2 August 2016 | archive-date=16 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816004406/https://thechampagnecompany.com/products/willys-cider-apple-sours-second-batch-limited-edition-75cl | url-status=dead }}
=Further products=
From 2014, together with Hobsons Brewery in Shropshire, Chase was developing a whisky made from corn, rye, or barley. They have been laying casks since 2012 and a cask distilled on 7 March 2012 was spotted in 2018.
{{Cite web
|url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2014/02/chase-to-make-hereford-whisky/
|title=CHASE TO MAKE HEREFORD WHISKY
|date=19 February 2014
|publisher=The Drinks Business
|access-date=15 February 2021}}
{{Cite web
|url=https://www.masterofmalt.com/blog/post/chase-distillery-turning-potatoes-into-liquid-gold-since-2008.aspx
|title=Chase Distillery: Turning potatoes into liquid gold since 2008
|date=29 November 2018
|publisher=Master of Malt
|access-date=15 February 2021}}
See also
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://www.chasedistillery.co.uk/ Official website]
- [http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/ San Francisco World Spirits Competition]
- [http://varieties.ahdb.org.uk/varieties/view/Lady%20Claire Lady Claire potatoes]
- [http://www.lovepotatoes.co.uk/varieties/fluffy-potatoes/king-edward/ King Edward potatoes]
Category:British companies established in 2008
Category:Companies based in Herefordshire
Category:Distilleries in England