First Impressions
Blood Monkey — named for the 17th-century sailors' trick of 'bleeding the monkey', drilling into officers' barrels to steal the liquor inside — was founded in 2020 and distilled at West Cork Distillers in Cork. Inspired by genever, it uses a malted grain base with Irish barley rather than the neutral spirit that most gins begin with. This gives Blood Monkey the viscosity of a white whiskey and smoky caramel notes that precede the citrus — a gin that remembers its Dutch-Irish ancestry.
Tasting
Ten botanicals: juniper, lime leaf, almond, orris root, Irish rosemary, liquorice, coriander, citrus peel, chamomile, and angelica. The nose is lavender and candied citrus with the malted barley adding biscuity warmth. On the palate, smooth warm citrus spice with a floral hint entwined with smoky caramel from the malt base. The viscosity is remarkable — like white whiskey. The finish is velvety and dry with herbs and persistent malt warmth. 88 points from Tastings.com.
The Bottom Line
Blood Monkey earns an 8 — a genuinely innovative Irish gin that bridges the gap between gin and whiskey through its malted barley base. The smoky caramel notes create cocktail possibilities that no neutral-grain gin can match: extraordinary in an Old Fashioned or a Martinez. The Irish rosemary and chamomile add local character. At £32, a gin that disrupts the category as promised. Try it before deciding what gin can and cannot be.
