Chase Distillery
A Herefordshire single-estate spirits brand known for potato vodka, gin and cider.
Last updated October 29, 2026
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Overview
Chase Distillery is a British spirits brand established in 2008 by William Chase at the family’s Rosemaund Farm in Preston Wynne, Herefordshire. Chase had previously founded Tyrrells, the British premium potato-crisp company, and drew on his experience growing potatoes when developing a distilling business. The idea emerged after a 2004 visit to the United States, where he considered whether farm-grown potatoes could be transformed into vodka. He subsequently converted a farm building into a distillery and acquired a large still. The first harvest for the distillery took place on 1 April 2008, and the first vodka batch was produced in June of that year. The business was built around a single-estate model. Potatoes and other agricultural inputs were sourced from the farm, while the company sought to control production from cultivation and fermentation through distillation and bottling. Chase Vodka was made from King Edward and Lady Claire potatoes grown at Rosemaund Farm and was presented as an English potato vodka. The company expanded into gin in late 2008, developing Williams Elegant Gin from spirits made with organic cider apples grown in the estate orchard. Chase also produced Chase GB Extra Dry Gin, a vodka-based gin, as well as flavored and specialty variants including sloe and mulberry gin, Seville orange gin, apple vodka, rhubarb vodka, smoked vodka and marmalade vodka. Cider became another important part of the portfolio. Willy’s Cider was initially developed as a base for Williams Gin, first appearing in 2009 and later sold as a standalone bottled cider from 2013. The company also produced apple-based sour drinks. From 2012, the wider business extended into wine through Maison Williams Chase, associated with Château Constantin, a 40-hectare estate near Aix-en-Provence in France. Chase additionally explored whisky production with Hobsons Brewery in Shropshire, laying casks from 2012 and developing a spirit based on corn, rye or barley, although whisky was not the brand’s principal commercial identity. Chase’s positioning combined British provenance, agricultural traceability and craft-scale distillation. Its products emphasized farm-grown ingredients and a distinctive alternative to grain-based or industrially produced spirits. The brand gained international recognition when Chase Vodka won the Best Vodka Award at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Chase GB Extra Dry Gin later received a Double Gold award at the same competition in 2016. By February 2016, the company was reported to be selling an average of approximately 10,000 bottles per week and exporting to 36 countries. Diageo announced the acquisition of Chase Distillery in October 2020, with the transaction completed in 2021. The acquisition placed the Herefordshire brand within one of the world’s largest spirits groups while preserving Chase’s identity as a premium English vodka and gin label. The original Herefordshire site was closed in January 2025, after which production moved to Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery in Fife, Scotland. The move changed the manufacturing location but did not eliminate the Chase brand, which remains associated with English agricultural provenance, potato vodka, single-estate gin and premium craft-spirit presentation.
History
Chase Distillery originated in William Chase’s attempt to create a value-added use for potatoes grown by his family business. During a 2004 trip to the United States, Chase considered making vodka from his own potatoes. He later converted one of the farm’s barns at Rosemaund Farm in Herefordshire into a distillery and purchased a large still. The first harvest associated with the distillery took place on 1 April 2008, followed by the first vodka production in June. The enterprise was designed as a single-estate distillery. Chase used potatoes cultivated at Rosemaund Farm, notably King Edward and Lady Claire varieties, in Chase Vodka. This farm-based sourcing model was central to the brand’s identity and differentiated it from vodka producers dependent on externally sourced grain or neutral spirit. The distillery expanded into gin in late 2008. Its Williams Elegant Gin used spirit derived from organic cider apples grown in the estate orchard, while Chase GB Extra Dry Gin used Chase Vodka as its base and was redistilled with juniper and other botanicals. Cider production developed alongside gin. Willy’s Cider was first produced in 2009 and served as an ingredient in the Williams gin range. It was subsequently bottled and sold as a standalone cider from 2013. The company also created apple-based sour products. The wider product range included flavored vodkas such as apple, marmalade, rhubarb and smoked expressions, together with specialty gins including sloe and mulberry and Seville orange variants. The brand broadened beyond spirits through Maison Williams Chase Wines, which began producing wine from 2012 at Château Constantin, a 40-hectare estate near Aix-en-Provence. Chase also worked with Hobsons Brewery in Shropshire on a whisky project. Casks were laid from 2012, with development involving corn, rye or barley, but whisky remained an experimental or secondary activity compared with vodka, gin and cider. Chase’s early commercial and critical progress was marked by external awards. Chase Vodka won Best Vodka at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Williams Elegant Gin was highlighted by The Daily Telegraph among notable new gins in 2013, and Chase GB Extra Dry Gin won Double Gold at the San Francisco competition in 2016. The company later reported exports to 36 countries and average sales of around 10,000 bottles per week in February 2016. Diageo announced its acquisition of Chase Distillery on 26 October 2020, and the acquisition was completed in 2021. The transaction ended Chase’s period as an independent family-run distillery while retaining the brand within Diageo’s spirits portfolio. In January 2025, the original Herefordshire production site closed and manufacturing moved to Cameronbridge in Fife, Scotland. This marked a major operational change: the brand’s historic farm site ceased to function as its production base, although Chase continued as a Diageo-owned spirits brand.
- 2025
Herefordshire site closes
[1]The historic Chase production site in Herefordshire closed in January, with manufacturing transferred to Cameronbridge in Fife.
- 2021
Acquisition by Diageo completed
[1]Chase Distillery became part of Diageo’s international spirits portfolio.
- 2020
Diageo announces acquisition
[1]Diageo publicly announced its acquisition of Chase Distillery in October.
- 2016
International distribution and gin recognition
[1]The company was reported to export to 36 countries and sell about 10,000 bottles per week. Chase GB Extra Dry Gin also received Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
- 2013
Willy’s Cider enters standalone sale
[1]Willy’s Cider began to be bottled and sold as a product in its own right.
- 2012
Wine and whisky projects expand the portfolio
[1]Maison Williams Chase Wines began production at Château Constantin in France, while the business also laid whisky casks in collaboration with Hobsons Brewery.
- 2010
Chase Vodka wins major international award
[1]Chase Vodka received the Best Vodka Award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
- 2009
Willy’s Cider is introduced
[1]The distillery began producing Willy’s Cider, initially as a component used in the production of Williams Gin.
- 2008
Distillery founded and first vodka produced
[1]William Chase established the family-run distillery at Rosemaund Farm. The first harvest took place in April and the first vodka batch was produced in June.
- 2008
Gin production begins
[1]Chase expanded production into gin later in the year, establishing the basis for the Williams and Chase gin ranges.
Products and positioning
Premium British craft spirits built around farm-grown ingredients, single-estate provenance and small-scale distilling heritage.
Vodka · 2008
Chase Vodka
A 40% ABV potato vodka made from King Edward and Lady Claire potatoes associated with Rosemaund Farm. It was positioned as an English single-estate vodka and became Chase’s best-known product after winning the Best Vodka Award at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Gin · 2008
Williams Elegant Gin
A 48% ABV gin distilled from apple spirit made with organic cider apples grown in the estate orchard. Its botanical profile includes juniper, coriander, liquorice, citrus peels, hops, elderflower and Bramley apples. The product was developed as a single-estate expression of the Herefordshire operation.
Gin · 2008
Chase GB Extra Dry Gin
A 40% ABV gin made using Chase Vodka as its base. The spirit is infused and redistilled with juniper and botanicals including cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, almond, coriander, liquorice and lemon. It was launched in Spain in 2012 and won Double Gold at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Flavored vodka
Naked Chase Apple Vodka
An apple-flavored vodka expression within the Chase specialty-vodka range.
Flavored vodka
Marmalade Vodka
A flavored vodka expression built around marmalade and citrus-style flavor cues.
Flavored vodka
Chase Rhubarb Vodka
A rhubarb-flavored vodka in the Chase range of fruit-led and specialty spirits.
Specialty vodka
Chase Smoked Vodka
A specialty vodka expression distinguished by a smoked flavor profile.
Aged vodka
Chase Brandy Cask Aged Vodka
A vodka expression matured in brandy casks, representing Chase’s experimentation with maturation and barrel-influenced spirits.
Flavored gin
Chase Sloe and Mulberry Gin
A 29% ABV fruit-led gin combining sloe and mulberry flavors.
Flavored gin
Chase Seville Orange Gin
A 40% ABV citrus-oriented gin flavored with Seville orange.
Cider · 2009
Willy’s Cider
An apple cider developed from the estate’s cider-apple production. It initially served as a base for Williams Gin and was later bottled and sold independently.
Wine · 2012
Maison Williams Chase Wines
A wine activity associated with Château Constantin, a 40-hectare estate near Aix-en-Provence in France. It extended the Chase family of brands beyond spirits into estate-produced wine.
Controversies
2021
UK watchdog investigates Diageo’s proposed purchase of Chase Distillery
In January 2021, the UK Competition and Markets Authority began examining Diageo’s planned acquisition of Chase Distillery. The regulator considered whether the transaction could create a relevant merger situation and significantly reduce competition in UK markets. The review concerned the proposed purchase itself, and the available source quote does not record a final outcome or further allegations.
Brand decisions
2025
Production transferred from Herefordshire to CameronbridgeStrategyBackground
The original Chase site in Preston Wynne represented the brand’s historic single-estate distilling base.
Action taken
The Herefordshire site closed in January 2025 and production moved to Diageo’s Cameronbridge distillery in Fife, Scotland.
Aftermath
Manufacturing no longer takes place at the original Herefordshire site, while the Chase brand continues under Diageo ownership.
2020
Diageo acquisition announcedM&ABackground
Chase had developed from a family-run farm distillery into an internationally distributed premium spirits brand with vodka, gin and cider offerings.
Action taken
Diageo announced that it had acquired Chase Distillery in October 2020.
Aftermath
The acquisition was completed in 2021 and placed Chase within Diageo’s global spirits portfolio.
Recent events
Reported
Diageo completes acquisition of Chase Distillery[3]
Diageo completed its acquisition of Chase Distillery following approval from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.
Reported
UK watchdog investigates Diageo’s proposed purchase of Chase Distillery[2]
The UK Competition and Markets Authority began examining Diageo’s planned acquisition of Chase Distillery, considering whether the transaction could create a relevant merger situation and significantly reduce competition in UK markets.
Reported
Chase begins producing and offering hand sanitiser[4]
Chase Distillery began making alcohol for hand sanitiser and made the product available to trade customers through its web shop. It had donated 30,000 bottles to local key workers.
Sources4 sources
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