There are names in the gin world that carry an almost mythical weight, and Monkey 47 is undoubtedly among them. The Schwarzwald Dry Gin announces its origins right there on the label — Schwarzwald, the Black Forest — and at 47% ABV, it wears its identity with a quiet confidence that I find deeply appealing.
A Name That Tells a Story
Monkey 47 has earned its reputation as one of the most distinctive expressions in modern gin. Classified as a London Dry, it adheres to the rigorous standards of that category while clearly charting its own course. The number 47 does double duty here, marking both the ABV and, famously, the count of botanicals said to go into each batch. That alone sets it apart — most gins work with a palette of six to twelve. The complexity this promises is part of what makes reaching for the bottle such an enticing prospect.
What strikes me most about this gin is its sense of place. The Schwarzwald designation is not mere marketing; it speaks to a tradition of foraging, of drawing from dense woodland and alpine meadow. Even the presentation — arriving here in a gift box — suggests something meant to be savoured rather than rushed. At £45.95, it sits at the premium end, but this is a gin that earns its price through sheer ambition of craft.
I score Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin an 8 out of 10. It is a gin that commands attention and rewards curiosity, a bottle that belongs in any serious collection.
Best served on a cool evening, poured long over ice with a refined tonic and whatever aromatics the season offers — a sprig of thyme in spring, a curl of grapefruit in winter. Let the glass do the talking.
