Monkey 47

The home of Monkey 47 Gin, a batch distilled and handcrafted gin from Germany’s Black Forest. In total, 47 handpicked plant ingredients prepared in extremely soft water from the Black Forest lend Monkey 47 unrivalled complexity and quality.

Based in the heart of Germany’s Black Forest, Black Forest Distillers is the company behind Monkey 47, one of the world’s most distinctive contemporary gin brands. Founded around the revival of an historic British-inspired gin recipe, Monkey 47 has become renowned for its exceptionally complex botanical character and its close connection to the landscape, culture and craftsmanship of the Black Forest.

The story of Monkey 47 begins with Montgomery “Monty” Collins, a former Royal Air Force officer who settled in the Black Forest after the Second World War. Inspired by his love of gin and the botanicals surrounding his new home, Collins developed his own recipe, combining traditional English gin-making influences with ingredients from the Black Forest and elsewhere in the world.

The modern Monkey 47 story began in the early 2000s, when Alexander Stein and distiller Christoph Keller rediscovered the historic recipe and set about bringing the concept to life. The resulting gin takes its name from its 47 botanicals and its original bottling strength of 47% ABV.

Today, Monkey 47 is produced in the Black Forest using an unusually diverse selection of botanicals sourced from around the world. Juniper, citrus, spices, herbs, flowers and forest ingredients are brought together through a carefully controlled production process designed to preserve the individual character of the botanicals while creating a harmonious and complex spirit.

The brand’s commitment to botanical exploration is particularly evident in its annual Distiller’s Cut. Each release introduces a distinctive 48th botanical – the Species Rara – selected through a process of experimentation and discovery. The limited-edition series has seen the distillery explore an extraordinary range of ingredients, demonstrating the possibilities of botanical innovation in gin.

Black Forest Distillers’ approach combines traditional distilling craftsmanship with curiosity, experimentation and a strong sense of place. Monkey 47 has consequently become an influential example of modern gin-making, demonstrating how a spirit can respect the traditions of gin while continually exploring new botanical territory.

Since its launch in 2010, aficionados, bartenders and connoisseurs the world over have come to appreciate the incredible complexity and harmony. Monkey 47 has been part of Pernod Ricard since 2016.