Monkey 47 makes capers its 48th botanical

Pernod Ricard-owned Monkey 47 gin has unveiled its 14th limited edition Distiller’s Cut expression, made with an additional botanical from the ‘black pearl’ of the Mediterranean.

Monkey 47 gin, made in Germany’s Black Forest, is created with 47 ‘carefully selected’ botanicals. However, each year the brand looks to source one additional botanical to add to its signature Schwarzwald Dry Gin in order to create its annual Distiller’s Cut expression. Previous expressions have included woodruff and red mustard cress. Ahead of this year’s Bar Convent Berlin trade show, the brand has unveiled capparis, better known as capers, to be the 48th botanical in the 2024 edition. The brand said it was inspired by the classic Italian dish of pasta with anchovies and capers, and sourced the botanical from the small island of Pantelleria in Italy, the so-called ‘black pearl’ of the Mediterranean, where caper bushes thrive amid the volcanic soil and warm climate. “Each year, our Distiller’s Cuts lets us go wild and push the boundaries of the Monkey 47 aromas,” explained Alexander Stein, founder of Monkey 47. “We realised that capers can be more than just a garnish for a tried-and-tested pasta recipe.” In order to ready to capers for adding to the distillate, they underwent a ‘meticulous’ two-step salting process, the first of which is said to be crucial for developing a tangy and slightly pungent flavour. A second salting took place to help with the maturing process, and released a unique and distinctive nutty flavour, with a pronounced sweetness and an intense aroma. Once rinsed, the capers were added to the macerate before the distillation process. The result is a ‘spicy and elegant’ dry gin, with a hint of the sea. Stein added: “Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut 2024 – Capparis offers a remarkable flavour experience ­­­– and not only for those who want to think themselves away onto that small volcanic island in the Mediterranean.” Murielle Dessenis, global vice-president marketing gins at Pernod Ricard, said: “There is always huge excitement and wondrous anticipation with what the Monkey 47 team conjure up for the annual limited edition Distiller's Cut – and as with every year, they have not disappointed. “The legendary 48th botanical for the 2024 Distiller’s Cut once again pushes the boundaries of what a conventional gin tastes like. Consumers should seize the day – or caper diem as we say – and consider grabbing this limited edition bottle before its gone.” The Distiller’s Cut 2024 bottle is intended to be a collectable, with the label's green tone representing the colour of the salted capers, while the bottle’s distinctive bottleneck ring – engraved with the words ‘ex pluribus unum’ (Latin for ‘one out of many’) – has been gold-coated for the annual limited release. The gift box is created with sustainable FSC paper, and its design depicts the brand’s decorative wallpaper, with a series of ‘cheeky’ monkeys and the new unique label colourway. Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut is bottled at 47% ABV and available in a 500ml bottle. An exclusive number of bottles are available internationally for a limited time starting this month (October).