Monkey 47 Gin

An unusual gin from Schaberhof, Schwarzwald, (Black Forest) in Germany, Monkey 47 contains a unique ingredient. No, not that! Cranberries! The 47 comes from the number of botanicals that go into this unique gin, and the fact it is bottled at a healthy 47%. This plethora of ingredients has paid off, and in 2011 Monkey 47 won the World Spirits Award Gold in the Gin category and Gold for best in class for the Gin Worldwide at the International Wine and Spirits Competition London. Not bad!

The story of Monkey 47 begins in the 1940s. In July 1945, to be precise! Wing Commander Montgomery Monty Collins of the Royal Air Force was posted to the British sector of divided Berlin. Having arrived in Berlin after the end of the war and taken up his post in the administration of the British sector, Commander Collins was profoundly affected by the extent of the destruction of the capital and so resolved to support the reconstruction of Germany in his free time. Henceforth he became devoted to the rebuilding of the Berlin Zoo, through which he came to sponsor an egret monkey by the name of Max.

Montgomery Collins left the Royal Air Force in 1951. Driven by his desire to learn the art of watch making, Collins moved to the Northern Black Forest region. Unfortunately, he showed little talent in the field of horology, so instead opened a country guesthouse, naming it The Wild Monkey in honour of Max.

Style

Dry Gin

Key Botanicals

47 total botanicals. Juniper berries, angelica root, coriander seeds, orris root, liquorice root, nutmeg, cubeb berries, clove, cardamom, cassia bark, cinnamon, grains of paradise, almond, ginger, sage, lavender, acacia flowers, hibiscus, bee balm, honeysuckle, jasmine, chamomile, bramble leaves, lingonberries, spruce shoots, pepper (6 types), acacia, calamus root, lemon verbena, lemon balm, lemongrass, pomelo, bitter orange peel, kaffir lime leaves, blackberries, cranberries, dog rose, elderflower, hawthorn berries, rosehips, sloes. Try remember all of them!

Tasting Notes

Predictably complex, this is a robust and powerful gin with plenty of spice, fruit and herb flavours. It's very well structured, and difficult to unpick but a citrus fresh start segues into pine and wood notes for a drying finish.

Perfect Serve

This complex gin really works best as a bone dry Martini, let the gin speak for itself! Premium tonic garnished with juniper, strawberry slices & a lemon twist.