Thirsty Thursdays: Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin

One of the things we love most at C-Style is exploring and tasting new spirits. Yet, it's not enough just to taste it, we want to know the story of how the spirit came to be.

C-Style was recently invited to discover (or should we say, rediscover) gin.  This particular brand, Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin, hails from the Black Forest of Germany.  You might be amazed - as I was - to find that there are many distillers in Germany making nothing but gin.  So what's so special about Monkey 47 you ask?

There's an interesting story behind it that starts long before Alexander Stein, Founder and Managing Partner of Black Forest Distillers, found, coaxed and partnered with highly acclaimed distiller, Christoph Keller in 2006.

Monkey 47 is made from the original recipe (with some fine-tuning) of Commander Montgomery "Monty" Collins of the Royal Air Force who was posted in 1945 to the British sector of a divided Berlin, Germany. Having arrived in Berlin after the end of the war, Commander Collins was profoundly affected by the extent of the destruction of the capital and resolved to support the reconstruction of Germany in his free time.

Collins took it as his new "mission" to rebuild the Berlin Zoo, through which he came to become the sponsor of an egret monkey by the name of Max. Upon leaving RAF in 1951, he moved to the Northern Black Forest region and opened a country guest house, which he named "Zum wilden Affen" (to the monkeys), in honor of Max, the monkey he had sponsored in Berlin.

One thing, as a British gentleman, that Collins was not willing to give up was the long-standing tradition of a good glass of gin.  This gave birth to his interest in the production of this most English of drinks.  The story of Collins trails off in the early '60's until renovation work began at the turn-of-the-century which led to the discovery of an old wooden box containing a bottle and a letter.

The dusty bottle had been labeled and decorated by hand with a sketch of a monkey and the words "Max the Monkey-Schwarzwald Dry Gin" in black lettering. The accompanying letter contained not only personal notes and photos, but a detailed description of the plant ingredients Montgomery had used in his recipe.

The Monkey 47 recipe is special because of its biographical nature.  In addition to herbs and berries typically found in the Black Forest, the recipe also contains exotic spices that can be attributed to the fact that Collins spent his childhood in India.

So what about the 47? It comes from the fact that this gin is composed of 47 handpicked, unusual but predominately regional ingredients.  The unique and complex taste of Monkey 47 creates an ideal base for both classic and more creative cocktails.  With notes of juniper, crisp and tangy citrus, cranberries and a hint of peppery spice, Monkey 47 is a very complex character!

So where can you find Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin? Having been voted "Best in Class for Gin Worldwide" by the International Wine & Spirits Competition, Monkey 47 is available across the world in the finest establishments from the Ritz Carlton in Berlin - to Barcelona, Spain - and now here in the United States.

In Chicago, restaurants such as Naha, River Roast, Next, and Benny's ChopHouse, carry the brand. Bars including Hugo's Frog Bar, Back Room, and  bars at The Godfrey and Raffaelo Hotels.  For stocking your personal bar, visit Plum Market, Binny's, or Kenwood Liquors.

To try out some of Monkey 47's creative recipes, visit them online at www.monkey47.com, like them at www.faceboook.com/Monkey 47US and follow them at www.twitter.com/monkey_47.

Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin! Certainly Wunderbar!