Black Forest’s Monkey 47 launches limited-edition Distiller’s Cut with 48th botanical from the Black Pearl of the Mediterranean

Monkey 47, the ultra-premium dry gin from Germany’s Black Forest, announces the latest release of its annual Distiller’s Cut at international Bar Show, Bar Convent Berlin, with an exclusive number of bottles available internationally for a limited time starting in October 2024. 

Once a year Monkey 47, made with 47 carefully selected botanicals, goes on the hunt for a species rara – oneextra special botanical to turn its signature Schwarzwald Dry Gin into a limited-edition Distiller’s Cut. Today, Monkey 47 unveils Capparis, better known as capers, as the species rara (48^th botanical) in the 14^th Distiller’s Cut edition – a distillate to thrill the senses and set the hearts of bartenders and gin enthusiasts alike, racing.

Inspired by the classic Italian dish of pasta with anchovies and capers, it discovered the tiny island of Pantelleria, the so-called Black Pearl of the Mediterranean, just off the toe of Italy – where caper bushes bedecked with fleshy leaves and delicate flowers thrive amid the volcanic soil and warm climate.

Once on the 15-km long enchanting volcanic island, Monkey 47’s journey led it to La Nicchia di Pantelleria, a small local farm steeped in a 75-year family tradition in the art of caper production. With Monkey 47 being a gin steeped in Black Forest traditions and meticulously hand-crafted, a partnership with La Nicchia seemed very natural. The capers, closed flower buds, are carefully picked by hand shortly before they bloom. They undergo a meticulous two-step salting process, the first of which is crucial for developing a tangy and slightly pungent flavour. A second salting to help with the maturing process, releases a unique and distinctive flavour: nutty, pure and elegant, with a pronounced sweetness and an intense aroma. The addition of La Nicchia di Pantelleria’s passionately produced capers is a perfect match to elevate the complex yet elegant aromas of Monkey 47 Dry Gin: once rinsed, the capers were added to the macerate before the distillation process operated some magic. The result is Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut 2024 – a spicy and elegant dry gin, with a hint of the sea, sweetly nutty, against a background of exceptional density and complexity. 

“Each year, our Distiller’s Cuts lets us go wild and push the boundaries of the Monkey 47 aromas,” says Alexander Stein, founder of Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Gin. “We realised that capers can be more than just a garnish for a tried-and-tested pasta recipe. Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut 2024 – Capparis offers a remarkable flavour experience – and not only for those who want to think themselves away onto that small volcanic island in the Mediterranean.”

Murielle Dessenis, Global VP Marketing Gins at Pernod Ricard, says: “There is always huge excitement and wonderous anticipation with what the Monkey 47 team conjure up for the annual limited-edition Distillers Cut – and as with every year, they have not disappointed! The legendary 48^th botanical for the 2024 Distiller’s Cut once again pushes the boundaries of what a conventional gin tastes like. Consumers should seize the day – or caper diem as we say – and consider grabbing this limited-edition bottle before its gone!”

Staying true to Monkey 47’s rich heritage and the constant pursuit of quality, the Distiller’s Cut 2024 bottle is a definite collectable. The label’s green tone exudes the colour of the salted capers, while the bottle’s distinctive bottleneck ring – engraved with the words ‘ex pluribus unum’ (Latin for ‘one out of many’) – is especially gold-coated for the annual limited release. The gift box is created with sustainable FSC paper, and its sophisticated design shows off the brand decorative wallpaper, with a series of cheeky monkeys and the new unique label colourway in a refined understated manner. 

Gin lovers and cocktail enthusiasts are encouraged to join Monkey 47’s pursuit of ‘Wunderbar’ adventures and discover a coveted bottle of Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut 2024 near them. 

Available via Raffle starting Raffle Start: 14.10.2024, 10 AM (CEST) and it ends on 21.10.2024, 8 PM (CEST) (sign up via Monkey 47 website). Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut is bottled at 47% ABV and available in a 500 ml bottle.

For more information, please visit the Monkey 47 website and follow @monkey47 on Instagram #MONKEY47 #DistillersCut2024 

Notes to editors

Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut 2024 Signature Serve  

Quality is the best recipe. And simplicity was Alexander Stein’s, founder of MONKEY 47,  approach when it came to developping a signature  serve for this year’s Distiller’s Cut. Of course, it could have been a cocktail, but why not just try it neat? Pure MONKEY 47 Distiller’s Cut Capparis, elevated by the subtle, briny kiss of a single “La Nicchia” caper. Salute!

La Nicchia has been a caper farm and food workshop on the island of Pantelleria since 1949. It handles everything from farming to processing capers, utilising all parts of the caper plant—buds, caperberries, leaves and sprouts. This complete vision of the production chain and its deeply rooted idea that it “could learn to make the best out of what the island had to offer, without being fooled by simplistic market principles” has made it a sui generis farming company and the only one on the island with a complete production chain.