On a trip to the USA 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. 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.
Production
Single-estate distillery
As a single-estate distillery, all spirits produced by Chase Distillery are made using home-grown ingredients. 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.
Chase Vodka
is the only potato-based vodka produced in England. In 2010, it won "Best Vodka Award" at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Other vodka products made by Chase Distillery include:
Naked Chase Apple Vodka
Marmalade Vodka
Chase Rhubarb Vodka
Chase Smoked Vodka
Chase Brandy Cask Aged Vodka
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 and Chase GB Extra Dry Gin. In 2013, it was named one of the 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. 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:
Since 2012, Chase Distillery has also been producing wines at Chateau Constantin, a 40 hectare estate near Aix-en-Provence, France. Willy's Cider, first produced in 2009, Willy's Cider 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.
Further products
Chase Distillery also produces a number of different liqueurs, along with Willy Chase's Fit Corn and candles.
