Drumrolls For The Schwarzwald Dry Gin: Monkey 47

A gin that’s glorified with a historical story, fine craftsmanship, age-old recipe and unrivalled complexity & quality is a rare one to find. But when you get one with all these attributes, you got to beat the drum to welcome it. This exceptional concoction of a good deal of botanical-rich gin is none other than Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin from Germany. In the times when in India, gin is slowly making its place as a preferred drink, Monkey 47 is a name associated with a handcrafted luxury matchless drinking experience. History of Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin  Monkey 47 is a product from the Black Forest, Germany, owned and created by Alexander Stein. Formerly from the telecommunication industry, where he was a senior-level employee at Nokia, he was bound to enter the distillation business sooner or later.  The reason was that he was born into a family of distillers. In 2006, while he was carrying on with his career in Detroit, a call from his old friend in Germany changed his life. His friend told him about a British Wings Commander Montgomery (also known as Monty) Collins of the Royal Airforce, Alexander found his calling and decided to craft this gin-based on Collin’s recipe. He named it Monkey 47, attributing its name to Max, the monkey and the forty-seven botanicals used in making this gin. About the distillery that produces the remarkable gin  To bring out the story and masterpiece that Commander Collins left behind as his legacy, Alexander Stein set up a distillery by the name Black Forest Distillers GmbH. This distillery is located in Schaberhof, in the Vogelsberg region, off the Southwest Franco-German border. It is a refurbished old and snowy farmstead built-in 1840. Black Forest Distillery is also named Zum Wilden Affen, the same as Wing Commander Monty Collin's country house. The distillery premises have space for maceration, storage, and tasting, along with a bee house, an apiary and a small herbal garden. About the Brand: Monkey 47  The journey of Monkey 47 started in 2008  when Alexander Stein set up the distillery to produce the unique recipe of Commander Collins. He made the team with a reputed local distiller Christoph Keller who was famous for making fruit brandies. They together crafted Monkey 47 in the Black Forest Distillery and launched it in 2010. Until 2016 Monkey 47 made a mark as a Black Forest gin. Later that year, Pernod Ricard took a major stake in the company through a German affiliate . The gin reached more than 100 countries and was introduced in India in 2017. Pernod Ricard completely took over the brand in 2020. Pernod Ricard is a company that regards the core brand values of the brands and distilleries it takes over; this is the reason why Monkey 47 will still have contributions from its maker Alexander Stein in the future. What goes in Monkey 47  The base of this Schwarzwald Dry Gin is sugar beet molasses. All forty-seven chosen botanicals are added one by one so that each one speaks for itself when taking a sip of this dry gin. The showstopper here is the lingonberry, giving Monkey 47 a distinctive and no-nonsense gin feel. Therefore, the distillers concentrate on crafting layered aromas, so lingonberry rests in the base spirit for two to three weeks. Later, the remaining forty-six botanicals are added one after the other. The water used for distilling can contribute significantly to the character of the spirit. Hence, for making Monkey 47, water is taken only from the Black Forest for its extreme softness. Since the distillery never reveals the botanicals used in Monkey 47, reviewers and experts suggest the list that Black Forest Distillers may be using angelica root, elderflower, blackthorn, cranberries, coriander, hibiscus, acacia flowers, bramble leaves, spruce shoots, blackberries, honey pomelo, chamomile, sage along with the very known lingonberries. The makers didn’t focus on making a brand; instead, they believed in making the best-tasting gin possible. Hence, they always focus on the only high-quality ingredients and a very focused procedure that justifies the reputation it holds. Tasting notes of Monkey 47  Colour: This finely crafted gin is transparent/clear in colour. Nose: The nose fills with zesty lime, some lime cordial and lemongrass. The freshness is further enhanced with eucalyptus and spruce forest. This combination is accompanied by slight lavender. Palate: There are refreshing and prominent zesty lime notes. There are also notable herbal, cardamom spice and liquorice notes. Finish: The strong and pleasant lime notes stay till the end while the lemongrass and pine flavours dominate the lingering finish. Monkey 47, with its exceptional composition, makes it a cult for those who have tasted it. The ones still waiting to try are already in awe of this wonderfully crafted dry gin. The passion of the creator of the recipe and crafter of the gin can be felt in the drinking experience. Botanically complex and historically rich, this gin should make it to every gin lover in the world. Whether you are a matter expert or a novice, so long as you are a gin lover, Monkey 47 will offer you the best experience, be it to augment your home bar or your palate!