The news, which follows the announcement of an agreement between Chase and Diageo on 26 October 2020, is the latest in a long line of craft gin acquisitions.
William Chase founded Chase Distillery, which produces much of its spirits from its farm-grown potatoes, from the proceeds of the £40m sale of Tyrrells Crisps in 2008.
More than a decade on, Chase Distillery produces Chase Original Potato Vodka and seven high end gins, including Chase GB Gin, Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin and Rhubarb & Bramley Apple Gin.
Chase Distillery - which has a strong bartender following - held the the annual musical festival Rock The Farm for the trade.
According to IWSR, the UK is the largest gin market in Europe and between 2014 and 2019, grew at a compound annual growth rate of 17%. The ‘premium-plus’ segment is growing at more than twice the rate of the total UK gin category, with a compound annual growth rate of 40% between 2014 and 2019.
Dayalan Nayager, managing director, Diageo Great Britain said: “We are delighted to welcome Chase Distillery and its quintessentially British portfolio of high quality, crafted brands to Diageo. We are very much looking forward to working with the Chase team to build on the portfolio’s considerable potential.”
James Chase, director and son of William Chase, said on agreeing the deal: “Since 2008, when Chase kick-started the UK’s craft spirit revolution, we’ve built Chase into a much-loved vodka and gin brand, constantly innovating and changing the way people appreciate and drink spirits.
"Taking inspiration from the early days of the craft spirits scene in the USA, we wanted to use a surplus of potatoes that were too small for Dad’s crisp brand, or too wonky to sell as spuds, so we worked with an artisanal still maker to build Chase Distillery in our rural corner of Herefordshire. It seems like only yesterday that we set out to tell our story at the local farmers’ markets and city cocktail bars.
“For Chase Distillery, it will be business as usual and I will be here every day making sure our quality remains unrivalled and that our farm distillery in Herefordshire is a must visit for any gin or vodka enthusiast. Diageo believes in the potential of our award-winning spirits and are looking forward to working with the Chase team to build on our mission to develop our sustainable distillery for generations to come.”
