Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Gin 375ml

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin 375ml. Black Forest Distillers, Loßburg, Black Forest, Germany — 47 botanicals including lingonberries, spruce shoots, and Black Forest cranberries, in a 375ml format — perfect for gifting or exploring one of the world's most complex gins.

The story of Monkey 47 begins with Wing Commander Montgomery Collins, a British RAF officer who settled in Germany's Black Forest after World War II. Inspired by his travels to India and the local flora around his guesthouse “Zum Wilden Affen” (The Wild Monkey), Collins developed a gin recipe using botanicals from four different worlds: classic gin botanicals, exotic Indian spices, regional Black Forest ingredients, and local German botanicals.

The 47 botanicals include juniper, coriander, lavender, and angelica alongside cardamom, grains of paradise, cassia, cubeb peppers, lemon verbena, spruce shoots, lingonberries, cranberries, and blackthorn — the last three specifically chosen to evoke the Black Forest's landscape. After distillation in small batches using soft Black Forest spring water from their own source, the gin is rested in traditional earthenware containers before bottling at 47% ABV. This 375ml format is ideal for gifting or discovering this iconic gin before committing to a full bottle.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Incredibly complex — bright, fruity, and floral with rose, citrus, juniper, lemon verbena, lavender, chamomile, and mint upfront. Deeper notes of sage, honeysuckle, and forest floor earthiness underneath.
• Palate: Cool and silky. Mentholated juniper, lavender, and blackthorn open before peppery vegetal notes emerge. Stone fruits, blueberry, tart cranberry, and earthy woodsy depth develop mid-palate. Sweet orange and ginger build toward the finish.
• Finish: Long, smooth, and warm with citrus zest, earthy herbs, and blackberry jam trailing into a faint forest floor close.

Specs

• Distillery: Black Forest Distillers, Loßburg, Black Forest, Germany
• Style: Contemporary German Dry Gin
• Base Spirit: Molasses alcohol
• Botanicals: 47 including juniper, lingonberry, cranberry, spruce shoots, blackthorn, lavender, lemon verbena, cardamom, coriander, cubeb peppers, grains of paradise, sage, angelica, cassia, ginger, jasmine, honeysuckle, rose hip, chamomile, and others
• Maturation: Traditional earthenware containers
• ABV: 47% (94 Proof)
• Size: 375ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Monkey 47 taste like? Impossibly complex — bright, fruity, and floral on the nose with rose, citrus, lavender, and mint. Cool and silky on the palate with juniper, tart cranberry, stone fruit, and earthy herbs. The finish is long and warm with citrus zest and spice.
• Is the 375ml the same liquid as the 750ml? Yes — identical recipe, 47 botanicals, 47% ABV, and earthenware maturation. The 375ml is a half-bottle format ideal for gifting or first-time exploration.
• Why does Monkey 47 have 47 botanicals? 47 botanicals were used in Wing Commander Collins' original recipe, and the number also references 1947 when he first developed the gin. The ABV is 47% to honor both.
• What cocktails is Monkey 47 best in? Best neat or on the rocks. In cocktails, use the lightest, least-flavored tonic available. A very dry Martini showcases its complexity without diluting it.
• Where is Monkey 47 made? At Black Forest Distillers in Loßburg, Germany's Black Forest, using soft spring water from their own source.