FIRST JOURNEYS - EUROPEAN EXPEDITION- PIN 27 OF 40
MONKEY 47 GIN - Black Forest, Germany
A ROAD TRIP WHERE EVERY STOP HAS A STORY
Today we are taking a trip into Germany's Black Forest, a region famous for dense woodland, folklore and traditions that have inspired stories for centuries. The name itself comes from the dark canopy of pine and fir trees which historically blocked much of the sunlight from reaching the forest floor, creating the mysterious atmosphere that has fuelled legends and fairy tales.
This is the land of the Brothers Grimm, cuckoo clocks and, of course, Black Forest Cake. Interestingly, the cake doesn't take its name directly from the forest itself, but from the local Kirschwasser—a clear cherry spirit traditionally used to flavour it. So, naturally, my cocktail today had to pay homage!
Monkey 47 probably needs very little introduction, with Max the Monkey featuring prominently on the label and giving away some of the clues behind one of the most intriguing gin stories around.
According to the brand legend, Montgomery "Monty" Collins was the son of a British diplomat who travelled widely with his family before joining the Royal Air Force. Posted to Berlin after the Second World War, he became involved in helping rebuild the Berlin Zoo and formed a particular attachment to a monkey called Max, whom he sponsored.
After retiring in 1951, Monty moved to the Black Forest where, after an unsuccessful attempt at watchmaking, he opened a guesthouse called The Wild Monkey—a tribute to his old companion. A lover of gin, he is said to have created his own Black Forest Dry Gin, inspired by his British roots, his travels and the local landscape.
The story goes that decades later, during renovation work at the old property, a box was discovered containing a bottle, a sketch of Max and a letter describing the original recipe.
This discovery eventually came to the attention of Alexander Stein, who became fascinated by the idea of recreating Monty's mysterious gin.
Working with distiller Christoph Keller, it took two years of experimentation before Monkey 47 was born.
Whether every detail belongs to history or legend, it certainly makes for one of the most memorable gin stories out there.
The recipe itself reflects Monty's fictional—or perhaps very real—journey. British tradition, exotic spices from India and botanicals from the Black Forest all come together in a gin that refuses to be conventional. With 47 botanicals and bottled at 47% ABV, it is complex, aromatic and unlike many modern gins. Juniper is present, but it shares the stage with layers of fruit, spice, herbs and forest notes.
The spirit is produced using a combination of maceration, distillation and vapour infusion, with their copper stills adapted specifically for the recipe.
Visitors can even visit the Black Forest Distillery and see where this modern-day legend continues to be made.
A gin, a monkey and a recipe hidden in the forest… perhaps exactly the sort of story you would expect from the home of the Brothers Grimm.
A lost recipe, a mysterious monkey and the gin story too good not to tell.
My Black Forest-inspired serve uses:
- 40ml Monkey 47 Gin
- 10ml Maraschino liqueur
- 10ml lemon juice
- Dash of orange bitters
- Luxardo cherry garnish
- A barspoon of the cherry syrup for good measure
A little like the cake itself, it is all about balancing fruit, sweetness and a little complexity.
"Show me a bottle and I’ll tell you a story."