The Influence behind the BLACK CAT DISTILLERY… WE WERE INSPIRED BY THE CHARMING 18TH CENTURY TALE OF THE CREATIVE AND RESOURCEFUL ENTREPRENEUR, DUDLEY BRADSTREET. The 1736 Gin Act made it illegal for anyone to sell gin in quantities of less than two gallons to reduce the excessive gin consumption of the time. He devised a scheme to discreetly sell gin on the streets of London, taking full advantage of the loopholes in the Gin Act, which required sellers to be visibly selling the gin. He sourced a wooden black cat sign and adapted it to become the precursor to the first vending machine.
Gin lovers would approach the black cat, saying, “Puss puss,” and the response would be “Mew mew,” indicating that gin was available for sale. The money would be inserted into the cat’s mouth, and the gin would be dispensed through a metal tube under the cat’s paw. We have created our own representation of the black cat dispensing machine as our logo. Nestled in the peace and serenity of the Eden Valley, Black Cat Distillery can be found at the magnificent partially restored 14th century fortified structure Brougham Hall, Penrith.
We are surrounded by echoes of the past, within a stone’s throw of Neolithic sites, Roman forts and Norman Castles. The inspiration behind Black Cat Gin’s recipe development fuses traditional techniques and Southern Asiatic and European botanicals with hints of exotic Africa to create modern and elegant flavours. We tie together these cosmopolitan influences with water that runs through the Lakeland fells which contains the very soul of the Lake District.
We believe excellent gin should never be overlooked for being made in petite quantities. In fact, the process of making gin in small batches ensures we can monitor every step of the distilling. This attention to detail is what sets small batch gins from their large scale counterparts. Our exceptional British gin is all the better for being a handmade artisan gin and this is something we plan to stick to, no matter how popular Black Cat gin becomes.
CLARE JEREMY
OWNER / FOUNDER
A MESSAGE FROM CLARE – “The creation of these gins has been a labour of love for me, a working mum with two children, and something I thought I would never achieve. For you to be reading this is proof that dreams can come true and I hope you will enjoy my gins for the miracle that they are . From my family to yours, thank you, please enjoy”
FOLLOW BLACK CAT DISTILLERY
😻🐈⬛😻Ready for another busy day at the Cumbria Life Home and Gift Fair 2025. Come and visit us at the Pencil Museum in Keswick today and pick up a bottle of your favourite Black Cat Gin!😻🐈⬛😻#gin #gingin #ginandtonic #ginandtonics #artisan #artisangin #craft #craftginclub #craftgin #distillery #craftdistillery #craftdistilling #christmas #christmaspresents #christmasgin
😻🐈⬛😻Dropping off our Father Whiskers Christmas Gin at Chestnut House and Base Camp North Lakes. Pop in and pick up a bottle. Available in 70cl and 20cl (perfect stocking filler size!). 😻🐈⬛😻
😻🐈⬛😻We had a lovely day with Dot and Jan on our Gin Making Workshop on Thursday. Dot distilled an elegant London Dry Gin using botanicals found in her cottage garden and Jan’s rhubarb gin was simply delicious. Both ladies are natural distillers!😻🐈⬛😻
😻🐈⬛😻 I can’t believe it! The weather is gorgeous today! Can you guess what we’re doing in the Distillery? Yes of course. Distilling our Father Whiskers Christmas Gin😻🐈⬛😻#gin #gingin #ginandtonic #ginandtonics #artisan #artisangin #craft #craftginclub #craftgin #distillery #craftdistillery #craftdistilling
😻🐈⬛😻Gazebos going up for Brougham Hall’s Folk Festival on Saturday 30 Aug! Looking forward to seeing some great acts. Line up:
😻🐈⬛😻 Lynne taking delivery of the Stag Inn’s new bespoke gins. The 3 Pikes London Dry Gin is back along with two new fruity friends: the beautiful Helm Berry Gin 😋and the delicious Rundale Rhubarb Gin✨. How can you resist?😻🐈⬛😻#gin #gingin #ginandtonic #ginandtonics #artisan #artisangin #craft #craftginclub #craftgin #distillery #craftdistillery #craftdistilling
😻🐈⬛😻 Feeling inspired with Tim Farron MP yesterday as Andy told us that one of the 3 Dads Walking main aims, to have suicide awareness included in the school curriculum has been achieved. what a great step forward for the 3Dads after such hard work. An amazing achievement to have it implemented in English primary and secondary schools! Watch out Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, you are next on their list. 😻🐈⬛😻
😻🐈⬛😻Finishing off a busy day distilling and bottling with a bit of quality control. Well that’s what I call it! 😻🐈⬛😻#gin #gingin #ginandtonic #ginandtonics #artisan #artisangin #craft #craftginclub #craftgin #distillery #craftdistillery #craftdistilling
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The Father Whiskers Christmas Gin is a perfectly festive and classic London Dry Gin with warming notes of gingerbread and tangy, sweet orange. Spiced vanilla defines the rich nose, delivering a palate full of warm winter notes and finishing with sweet cinnamon character.
Absolutely divine when served with your preferred Indian Tonic Water and garnished with either a wedge of orange or a stick of cinnamon. #gin #gingin #ginandtonic #ginandtonics #artisan #artisangin #craft #craftginclub #craftgin #distillery #craftdistillery #craftdistilling #christmas #christmaspresents #gift #giftideas #stockingfillers #christmashampers #christmasgin
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Check out our Gin Making Workshops 👉 https://www.blackcatdistillery.co.uk/gin-workshops/ #lakedistrictdaysout #ginworkshops #thingstodointhelakedistrict #thingstodo #thingstodointhelakes #birthday #birthdaypresent #birthdaypresents #birthdaygiftideas #birthdaygift #ullswater #ullswaterlakedistrict #penrithdaysout #christmaspresents #xmas #xmaspresent
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11.00 – BLUEJAM FOLK
11.40 - MATTY BUCK
12.00 – UKE’S 4 FUN
12.40 – NEIL McHARDY
13.00 – TAILGATE BUSKERS
13.40 – JOHNPAUL ORIGINALS
14.00 – ALL AT SEA
14.40 – PETE ROWAN
15.00 – THE SHANTY GIRLS
15.40 – DALI LEE
16.00 – Mama Estelle
16.40 – FIONA STUART
17.00 – NOBODY’S FRIENDS (+ FRIENDS!)
17.50 – 18.30 CLIFFORD MOVEMENT
18.35 – SUPERGROUP ENSEMBLE.
Free entry and bar!
😻🐈⬛🐈⬛😻 #folkmusic #livemusicphotography #livemusic #penrith
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Treat yourself to a beautifully balanced London Dry Gin with a grapefruit twist and support this amazing cause. £7 from every bottle sold is donated to the Papyrus Charity working to prevent young suicide.👉 https://www.blackcatdistillery.co.uk/product/3-dads-walking-gin/ #gin#gingin #ginandtonic #ginandtonics #artisan #artisangin #craft #craftginclub #craftgin #distillery #craftdistillery #craftdistilling
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