Chase Vodka founder slates rival brands Sipsmith and Black Cow and refers to them as “crap” products
Some vodkas are distilled over diamonds, others over gold. Some vodkas originate from grain, others emanate from grapes. Vodka can be made in a number of ways but now an almighty row has erupted after William Chase, the original owner of Tyrells Crisps and the founder of the Chase Distillery told The Sunday Telegraph his rivals – namely Black Cow and Sipsmith – are “cutting corners” and producing “crap”.
In an interview with Rebecca Burn-Callander, Chase shared further views on vodka – a drink which most would agree should be colourless, odourless and tasteless – and claimed that whilst his spirits are made “from scratch” on his Herefordshire farm, Black Cow and Sipsmith use a ready-made “neutral spirit” as a basis for theirs.
In response to Chase terming Sipsmith “the bullshit brand”, Sam Galsworthy, the company’s co-founder commented:
“We use English wheat spirit, we put it in our pot still, we put in 10 botanicals, and distil it in the way it’s always been made”.
“To criticise that process is to suggest that Van Gogh was not an artist because he didn’t stitch the canvas on which he paints”.
“We have never said anything other than we buy our neutral spirit, the canvas on which we paint. We’ve not misled anyone”.
Helen Watkins of Black Cow went further and added: “Perhaps Mr Chase has been in too close contact with his own product”.
Miaow. Stiff vodkas are plainly required all round.
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