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
😻🐈⬛😻 It may have been drizzly yesterday but our little distillery was filled with fun and laughter. Janet and Ian attended one of our gin making workshops and the fun started as soon as they walked through the door. Both were natural distillers with Janet’s Hummingbird Gin beautifully capturing sweet hibiscus with peppery notes whilst Ian’s Tunnellers Gin successfully combined Nelson Sauvin hops with fragrant rosemary. Simply delicious!😻🐈⬛😻 #gin #ginandtonic #workshop #thingstodointhelakedistrict #lakedistrict
😻🐈⬛😻 Help us solve a dilemma in the distillery! Phil prefers our PinkPeppercorn and Pomegranate Ginwith a plain tonic water where as I am quite partial to it with a Rhubarb and Raspberry one. simply delicious! What do you think? 😻🐈⬛😻 pick up a bottle here👉https://www.blackcatdistillery.co.uk/product/black-cat-fruity-gin-no-2/ and join in the fun! #gin #ginandtonic #fruitygin #fevertree #artisangin
😻🐈⬛😻Time to stop contemplating which one of these ancient olive trees will produce the perfect garnish for my next G&T and come home to reopen the distillery. Thank you Italy. You never disappoint! Distillery re-opens on 10 June😻🐈⬛😻 #gin #ginandtonic #craftgin #penrith #lakedistrict
😻🐈⬛😻 Don’t worry!!! Doors of the distillery will be flung open again from 10 June to all our lovely customers! Just off on a short holiday. If you need a bottle of your favourite Black cat Gin then just pop into Chestnut House in Pooley Bridge or Black Hand Wine, Cranston‘s Food Hall, or Rheged in Penrith. They’ve got loads!😻🐈⬛😻 #gin #ginandtonic #gintonic #penrith #fruitgin
😻🐈⬛😻No matter where I hide to enjoy a well deserved G&T in the lovely sunshine….. I always get caught!😻🐈⬛😻#gin #ginandtonic #distillery #craftgin #sunnydays☀️😎
🐈⬛😻🐈⬛Just what I needed! A delicious Bleumm G&T after an intense sales and marketing conference. A big thank you to Kate and Rach at the Fell bar, Northern Quarter Manchester for their friendly welcome and providing some much needed refreshment.🐈⬛😻🐈⬛ #northernquarter #gin #ginandtonic #distillery #craftbrew
😻🐈⬛😻 The first distillery tour of the year! Next tour is Sunday 17th May at 11am. £15 pp. DM to book! 🐈⬛😻#thingstodointhelakedistrict #distillerytour #gin #ginandtonic #penrith
😻🐈⬛😻 Oh no! In trouble again! Soaking up the rays with a G&T instead of working in the distillery filling bottles!😻🐈⬛😻 #ginandtonic #ginfluencers #gin #artisangin #craftgin
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