First Impressions
Chilgrove Signature Edition Gin makes a claim that no other English gin can: it was the first to be distilled entirely from grape alcohol. While eau de vie-based gins are common in continental Europe — particularly in France — the use of grape spirit for gin in England was a genuinely novel proposition when Chilgrove launched. The grape alcohol provides a fundamentally different base character to the grain or potato spirits that dominate British gin production, and the resulting spirit has a smoothness and roundness that is immediately apparent.
Produced in West Sussex, with hand-foraged local juniper among its eleven botanicals, Chilgrove bridges the gap between English gin tradition and continental distilling sensibility. At 44% ABV, it is bottled at a strength that gives the botanicals room to express themselves.
The Distillery
Chilgrove Spirits operates in the South Downs of West Sussex, and the local landscape provides several of the gin's botanicals. The juniper is hand-foraged from the surrounding countryside — a practice that connects the gin to its specific geography and ensures the freshness of the most critical botanical. The eleven-ingredient bill includes coriander seeds, angelica root, orris root, water mint, grains of paradise, sweet and bitter orange, liquorice root, savory, and lime. The inclusion of water mint and savory — both culinary herbs more commonly associated with the kitchen — gives the gin an herbal quality that complements the grape spirit's natural smoothness.
Tasting
The nose is floral and gently sweet — the grape alcohol's influence is evident from the first sniff. Juniper is present and properly defined, but it sits within a more cushioned, elegant aromatic framework than grain-based gins typically provide. Citrus — both the sweet and bitter orange — adds brightness without aggression. It is a refined, almost gentle nose that promises a smooth drinking experience.
On the palate, the grape spirit base proves its worth. The mouthfeel is full and fresh — noticeably smoother and rounder than grain-based equivalents. Juniper leads with clean, piney authority, supported by angelica and coriander that contribute earthy and spicy dimensions respectively. The 44% ABV gives the botanicals genuine body, and the grape spirit's natural sweetness provides a subtle richness that carries the flavours without heaviness. Water mint adds a fresh, cooling note in the mid-palate.
The finish is bright and piney, with peppery spice from the grains of paradise providing a warming conclusion and citrus lingering pleasantly. The grape spirit smoothness extends into the finish, preventing any harshness and creating a clean, elegant aftertaste.
How to Drink It
Chilgrove's smooth grape-spirit character makes it an excellent Martini gin. The 44% ABV and rounded mouthfeel create a Martini with genuine elegance — try it at 4:1 with a twist of orange to connect with the dual-orange botanicals. For a G&T, use a premium tonic and garnish with orange zest or a sprig of fresh mint, as the brand itself suggests.
In cocktails, the grape base gives Chilgrove an unusual affinity with wine-based ingredients. A White Negroni — Chilgrove, Lillet Blanc, and Suze — is a particularly harmonious combination. The gin also works beautifully in an Aviation, where the grape smoothness carries the floral notes elegantly.
The Bottom Line
Chilgrove Signature earns a 7.5 as a genuinely distinctive gin that uses its grape alcohol base to create a character quite different from the grain-spirit majority. The smoothness and roundness of the mouthfeel are the grape spirit's clearest contributions, and they make Chilgrove an exceptionally mixable and approachable gin. The eleven botanicals are well-balanced, the hand-foraged juniper adds local provenance, and the 44% ABV is perfectly judged. If you have never tried a grape-based gin, Chilgrove is the ideal introduction — it demonstrates that changing the base spirit can change the entire personality of a gin without abandoning what makes gin gin.
