Diageo's Chase Distillery Enters Liquidation After Production Shift
A prominent UK gin producer, Chase Distillery Limited, has been placed into voluntary liquidation after manufacturing approximately 500,000 bottles annually. The company, which is owned by the multinational beverage corporation Diageo, has undergone significant restructuring that led to this development.
Closure of Original Production Facility
The original "field-to-bottle" distillery located at Chase Farm in Herefordshire was permanently shut down in January of last year. This closure marked the end of an era for the site that had been operational since the company's founding in 2008 by William Chase.
All distillation operations have been transferred to Diageo's Cameronbridge Distillery in Scotland, where other well-known brands including Tanqueray, Gordon's, and Smirnoff are produced. This strategic move consolidated production facilities within Diageo's extensive network.
Acquisition and Expansion Plans
Diageo acquired Chase Distillery in March 2021 with the intention of expanding its "premium-plus" spirits portfolio. The multinational beverage giant had planned to liquidate Chase Distillery as a subsidiary entity, with expectations that this process would be completed by June 2025.
The Chase brand portfolio, which includes the award-winning Original Potato Vodka named "World's Best Vodka" at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Chase GB Extra Dry Gin, and Williams Elegant Gin, continues to be marketed from the Scottish production site despite the liquidation proceedings.
Official Liquidation Notice
Notice of the voluntary winding up of Chase Distillery Limited was published in a government gazette on Friday, March 27, 2026. The official document stated: "Notice is hereby given that the creditors of the above named Company which is being voluntarily wound up."
Creditors who have not yet proven their debt have been instructed to submit their names, addresses, and proof of debt by April 24, 2026. The gazette further clarified: "A creditor who has not proved his debt before the declaration of any dividend is not entitled to disturb, by reason that he has not participated in it, the distribution of that dividend or any other dividend before his debt was proved."
This liquidation represents a significant shift in the UK spirits manufacturing landscape, particularly within the premium gin sector where Chase Distillery had established a notable presence through its innovative production methods and award-winning products.
