Chase has built a reputation as one of the more interesting independent spirits producers in the UK market, and their Pink Grapefruit Gin represents exactly the kind of line extension that makes commercial sense in today's crowded flavoured gin landscape. Built on a London Dry backbone at 40% ABV, this is a brand that understands where the market has moved — and, crucially, how to meet it without abandoning its craft credentials.
The Business of Botanicals
What catches my attention here is the botanical bill. Juniper, orange peel, liquorice, elderflower, and bitter almond — it's a considered lineup that suggests this isn't simply a case of dumping grapefruit flavouring into a neutral base. The citrus from the orange peel will naturally complement the pink grapefruit character, while the liquorice and elderflower add a layered sweetness that should prevent the fruit element from becoming one-dimensional. Bitter almond is the most intriguing inclusion — it's the kind of botanical that adds textural depth and a subtle marzipan undertone that bartenders appreciate when building more complex serves.
Market Position
At £30.50, Chase Pink Grapefruit sits in a sensible mid-market position. It's not trying to compete with the supermarket own-brand flavoured gins at fifteen pounds, nor is it reaching for the ultra-premium shelf. This is squarely aimed at the consumer who's graduated from Gordon's Pink but isn't yet spending forty-five on a bottle of something Japanese. It's a smart price point, and one that works well for independent retailers and online gifting — two channels where Chase has historically performed well.
The London Dry classification is worth noting. It tells you something about Chase's approach: they're distilling the botanicals rather than simply infusing post-distillation, which gives the grapefruit character a more integrated, less confected quality than many competitors in this segment. That matters if you care about how a gin holds up in a mixed drink rather than just how it photographs on Instagram.
Best Served
This is a gin that earns its keep in a long serve. A quality Mediterranean tonic with a wedge of fresh grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary would be my recommendation — it's the kind of straightforward G&T that sells consistently well in bars and is easy to replicate at home. For something more adventurous, it would work admirably in a Paloma riff, swapping the tequila for this gin and letting the grapefruit do double duty.
I'm giving Chase Pink Grapefruit Gin a 7.3 out of 10. It's a well-executed flavoured gin from a producer that clearly understands its market. It doesn't break new ground, but it doesn't need to — it fills its role with competence and a touch of character, which is more than can be said for much of what occupies this particular shelf.
