First Impressions
Chase Distillery occupies a singular position in British spirits. Founded in 2008 on a working farm in Herefordshire, it was one of the first 'farm-to-bottle' distilleries in the UK — growing its own potatoes, distilling its own vodka, and using that vodka as the base for its gins. The GB in the name stands for Great British, and the gin wears its provenance with the quiet confidence of a distillery that actually owns every step of the production process, from field to bottle.
The approach is refreshingly genuine in an era when 'craft' has become more marketing term than meaningful distinction. When Chase says farm-to-bottle, they mean it — the potatoes grow in the Herefordshire soil, the still sits on the farm, and the water comes from the estate borehole.
The Distillery
Chase Distillery's copper pot still produces the base spirit from estate-grown King Edward and Lady Claire potatoes — varieties chosen for their starch content and the subtle sweetness they lend to the spirit. The GB Gin is then made by redistilling this potato vodka with eleven botanicals: juniper buds and berries (a dual-juniper approach that adds depth), cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, almond, coriander, cardamom, cloves, liquorice root, and lemon peel. The spice-heavy botanical bill is a deliberate choice that gives the gin its signature warm, almost festive character.
Tasting
The nose is unmistakably spice-driven. Juniper leads, but it is immediately accompanied by warm cinnamon and nutmeg — the kind of Christmas spice character that might seem gimmicky in lesser hands but here feels entirely deliberate and well-integrated. There is lemon oil providing brightness, a faint basil herbal note, and a curious overripe banana aroma that is a distinctive calling card of the potato-based spirit. It is a nose that announces its farmhouse origins without apology.
On the palate, the gin is dry and full-bodied — the potato spirit contributing a richness of mouthfeel that grain-based gins rarely achieve. The Christmas spices arrive with real conviction: cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and black pepper take turns making their presence felt, each distinct rather than blurred. Big juniper holds the centre, balanced by assertive lemon that persists through the mid-palate. Warm earthiness from the liquorice and almond provides depth, and rich ginger adds a slow-building heat. The spices do not compete with the juniper so much as surround it with warmth.
The finish is long and dry, with piney juniper reasserting itself alongside a refreshing touch of citrus zest. There is a faint hint of apple — perhaps a whisper of the Herefordshire orchards that surround the distillery — that adds a final grace note.
How to Drink It
Chase GB's spice profile makes it a superb winter G&T gin. Use Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and garnish with a cinnamon stick and a slice of apple — the garnish amplifies the gin's natural warmth and connects it to its Herefordshire terroir. In summer, a lighter tonic with a lemon twist works equally well, letting the citrus peel botanical take the lead.
In cocktails, this is an outstanding gin for anything that benefits from spice: a Hot Gin Toddy, a Penicillin variation, or a warming Bee's Knees with honey syrup. The full-bodied mouthfeel from the potato spirit also makes it a creditable Martini gin, though the spice will dominate the vermouth if you are heavy-handed.
The Bottom Line
Chase GB Gin earns a 7.5 for delivering a genuinely distinctive farm-to-bottle gin with character and integrity. The potato-based spirit provides a richness that sets it apart from grain-based competitors, the eleven-botanical bill is spice-driven but well-balanced, and the Herefordshire provenance is more than a story — you can taste it. The Christmas spice character will not suit every palate or every occasion, but when you want a gin with warmth, substance, and an honest connection to its origins, Chase GB is a bottle that delivers.
