Whale Skin Cocktail is Illegal

The Nightjar bar in Hoxton, East London, England, had a cocktail on its online menu called the Moby Dick. One of the ingredients was listed as "whaleskin infusion." The ingredient means a small strip of whaleskin that was soaked in a bottle of Scotch whisky. But that small strip is illegal.  

There is a Europe-wide ban on the sale of whale meat and products, except under strict restrictions in Greenland and Denmark.

Police were tipped-off in October that the bar was serving whale skin illegally, and raided the City Road premises on December 3.

It was carried out by officers from the Met's Wildlife Crime Unit and an officer from the United Kingdom Border Force.

"One item from the premises was seized," said a police spokesman. "This has been sent for analysis."

No arrests have been made.

The whaleskin was purchased in Japan last year by an employee of the bar, which has issued an apology. The drink has been removed from the menu. Link -via Arbroath