The Chase Distillery in Herefordshire has quickly established itself as one of the most innovative and interesting in England. Well known for their smoked potato vodka (which makes perhaps the most delicious Bloody Mary) and their marmalade vodka, they have now produced this excellent gin. This gin has a classic English profile, using hops, elderflowers and Bramley apple as some of the botanicals. Unlike many other distilleries that begin their gin with a pre-distilled, externally-sourced neutral grain spirit, Chase distils their gin from scratch, using rare varieties of apples grown on their 300 year old cider orchards. The gin is brought down to a robust 48% ABV through dilution with fresh water from the distillery’s well. This is a crisp, fruity, spicy gin with a wonderful orchard nature and thick mouthfeel. One of those gins that is so good you can have it simply over ice. Delicious stuff from the William Chase folks again.