Distillers & Spirit Producers

Whistling Shop

Whistling Shop (Fluid Movement), Worship Street, Shoreditch, London, UK.

In Victorian times, at the height of the Gin craze, Gin Palaces were found throughout London. Gin was held and served from barrels at these places; the spirit was often rough and ready and there were several approaches to soften and smooth the alcohol. One was to sweeten it and today many are familiar with this category of Gin: Old Tom. The other method, almost unknown of today, was to add sugar and cream (although this methodology is debated) and gave rise to the term Cream Gin.

The Whistling Shop on Worship Street in London, UK is an unusual and unique Victorian style Gin Palace (bar). The bar’s signature drink is the Black Cat’s Martini, using 10 parts Cream Gin and 1 part dry Vermouth garnished with a radish. This bar, and several others, is the combined work of mixologists Thomas Aske, Bryan Pietersen, Tristan Stephenson and Matt Whiley. This collaboration, collectively known as Fluid Movement, have partnered with the UK liquor merchant Master of Malt to produce this Cream Gin. Realizing this old type of Cream Gin probably wouldn’t prove too successful today (although one wonders, given the success of Bailey’s Irish Cream) they undertook to use modern methods to produce their own version of this Gin. The finalized commercial offering for purchase was produced in late 2012.

Whistling Shop and Fluid Movement.

Worship Street Whistling Shop Cream