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Think vodka and you think Russia, right? Well one man – a certain William Chase – is doing his level best to try and make you also think of Herefordshire.
While it may seem unlikely, William Chase, the man behind premium crisps Tyrrells, has left bar snacks behind (having sold off Tyrells two years ago) and is now making a high-quality vodka instead, and if you think that’s a strange leap, then bear in mind that his vodka is made with English potatoes, rather than grain, which is a more common base for the spirit.
This is not vanity project by a man with money to burn, this is quality vodka, indeed, it’s already won the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating 249 rivals from around the world, including the output of the finest Russian and Polish distilleries.
Much of the quality comes firstly from the potatoes, which are gluten-free, full pedigree, natural and grown on Chase’s farm in Hereford. “The reason other people stopped making vodka out of potatoes is because you need so many spuds,” says Chase. “The first time we made vodka we had an artic-load of spuds and there was only a few litres. You can get a bit more of a yield out of wheat, but with the potatoes it has a natural sweetness to the product and the consistency of a fine wine.”
It really does make for a quality drink, and we swear you get a hint of buttery mash in there.
The second reason this stuff tastes so good is high quality distilling equipment, which cost Case a cool £3m. The vodka is distilled three times through their copper pot still, twice through a 70ft column with 42 bubble plates and is then cold chill filtered – which we’re assured is very impressive if you understand all that stuff.
As well the vodka, the Williams Chase Distillery also produces Naked Chase and Williams Gin, both distilled from their own Herefordshire cider, plus limited editions of smoked vodka and English breakfast marmalade Vodka. The distillery also has a range of vodka-distilled fresh fruit liqueurs, including rhubarb and elderflower.
Posted on Wednesday 4th August 2010
TG
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