Monkey 47 Gin - Bold, Intense & Screaming for a Cocktail

The intoxicating, exotic aromas of a well made gin makes it, to me, one of the most interesting spirits available.  The different botanicals used by each distiller give artisanal gin a unique flavor profile and therefore a particular presence in the right cocktail.  The Monkey 47 is called as such because 47 different botanicals are used from traditional juniper and lavender, to fresh citrus peel and lingonberry, to wildly unusual ingredients like spruce shoots and bramble leaves foraged from the Black Forest, where the distillery is located. Evocative and intense, it is one of the boldest, most complicated gins on the market and it's screaming to be balanced in a cocktail. See our 3 simple recipes below, all made with ingredients found at Swirl.

Distiller Review
"Monkey 47 is an exquisite gin that pushes the boundaries of how much and what type of flavor a gin can have. The 47 ingredients build off of each other rather than contradict and the unlikely combination of forest fruit and exotic tones of wildflowers and island spices (especially on the balanced and long, rich finish) create a heady beverage that reveals more upon every sip. Juniper is present, but there is so many other flavors present that it is not nearly as dominant as in many more traditional gins. This is truly one of the world’s most complex gins and although we're sure that it would make wonderful cocktails, one should try it by its self to appreciate the full spectrum of flavors." JOHN RANKIN, 99 points

Recipes -

Schwarzendorff Martini
A fun twist on the classic martini, or a teaser for non-martini drinkers as a gin-based aperitif, since it packs less of an alcoholic punch. The Brand Feinherb Riesling compliments the orchestra of botanicals brought to this drink by Monkey 47 and finish it with a note of acidity and freshness. *All alcoholic ingredients available at Swirl.

Instructions - Fill a mixing glass with ice. Pour in all 2oz. *Monkey 47, 2oz *Brand Feinherb Riesling, 2 dashes *Regans Orange Bitters. Stir until chilled and the desired dilution achieved. Strain into a chilled Martini glass, garnish with a twist of lemon zest and add a small pinch of ground cinnamon.

The Negroni
Bittersweet and refreshing, the Negroni is one of Italy's most renowned cocktails. The most widely reported version of this drink's origin is that it was invented at Caffe Casoni in Florence, Italy in 1919. Legend tells that Count Camillo Negroni asked his friend, bartender Forsco Scarselli, to strengthen his favorite cocktail – the Americano – by replacing the soda water with gin. For a fun twist we’ve exchanged Campari with a similar, natural alternative from Mexico. *All alcoholic ingredients available at Swirl.

Instructions - Add 1 oz *Monkey 47 Gin, 1 oz *Carpano Antica Formula and 1 oz *Haas Brothers Granada Vallet into a mixing glass with ice, and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a rocks glass filled with large ice cubes and garnish with an orange peel.

Summer Gintonica
Super simple and refreshing for a hot, New Orleans day - and the garnish makes it look super fancy!

Instructions: Add 2 oz. Monkey 47 and 1/4 oz. fresh squeezed lemon juice in a glass over ice. Top with tonic and garnish with fresh blackberries on cocktail pick, a few mint sprigs and a lemon twist.