Demand for marmalade vodka sparks waiting list

English vodka brand Chase has reported a "massive" waiting list for its limited edition marmalade vodka. In the wake of recent figures suggesting that the British ate 2.5 million fewer jars of marmalade last year, William Chase, founder of Chase Vodka Distillery, observed: "It seems that Brits don’t eat marmalade on toast anymore, but they take it with their vodka."

The brand’s flagship vodka, made from Herefordshire potatoes, was voted Best Vodka in the World at the San Francisco World Spirits Awards last March.

“We sold our last batch of marmalade vodka before we’d even made it, so we now have a massive waiting list. We’ve invested in a bespoke vacuum still that will gently infuse the natural sweetness of Seville marmalade into our natural creamy potato vodka”, he said.

In order to keep up with demand, Chase plans to grow citrus fruit in poly-tunnels on his family farm in Herefordshire, using heat from the distillery.

“We’ve tried infusing various fruits in our vodka, but marmalade has proven one of the most popular” said Chase, who sold his Tyrrells crisps company for £30m in 2008.

“We think of it as the great British breakfast Martini”, said Chase. “Perhaps old Paddington will have to switch to Marmite!”

Chase is the only English potato vodka on the market. Set up by William Chase in 2007, the company, which ships worldwide, forecasts a £1m turnover this year.

Lucy Shaw 24.01.2011