
Monkey 47 Distiller's Cut 2022
Monkey 47 · Black Forest Distillers
Each year's Distiller's Cut adds a secret botanical to the standard 47, and the 2022 edition brings a subtle aromatic shift that rewards comparison with the classic expression. The base architecture — 47 botanicals in precise harmony — remains one of gin's great achievements. This is precision distilling at its most expressive.
Nose
Dense and layered — juniper pine and fresh citrus lemon are framed by lavender and a distinct floral rose quality. Deeper layers reveal peppery warmth and an earthy, resinous complexity.
Palate
Richly textured with interwoven botanicals. Juniper leads but never dominates, giving space to grapefruit zest, coriander, chamomile, and a honeyed floral sweetness. The 47% ABV carries every note cleanly.
Finish
Long and evolving, with lingering pine, gentle spice, and a floral-herbaceous fade.
- Style
- Dry Gin
- Botanicals
- 47 botanicals including juniper, cranberries, lingonberries, lavender, acacia, chamomile, elderflower, spruce, and a secret annual addition
- Base Spirit
- Molasses-based neutral grain spirit
- Distillation
- Macerated and distilled in a small Arnold Holstein copper pot still
Cocktail Suggestion
Black Forest Collins — 2 oz Monkey 47 Distiller's Cut · 1 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.75 oz simple syrup · Top with soda water · Build in a collins glass over ice, garnish with fresh blackberries and a sprig of thyme.
Food Pairing
The gin's floral lavender and herbal complexity harmonize with tangy chèvre and wildflower honey drizzled over grilled sourdough crostini.
Inspired by a British RAF officer who settled in Germany's Black Forest and kept a pet monkey, founder Alexander Stein launched Monkey 47 in 2008 using 47 hand-foraged botanicals from the surrounding forest.
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