MONKEY 47 DISTILLER'S CUT 2024 EDITION
SCHWARZWALD DRY GIN
SCHWARZWALD, GERMANY
Why Buy: Get excited, gin aficionados — Monkey 47's Distiller's Cut is back for its 14th edition, and this time bottles are at a super premium. With a mere 4,000 bottles available in the US, this release from the cult producer is as rare as it is remarkable. Mixologists worldwide are already clamoring for it, having made this bottling one of the most beloved and coveted gins in the world. This year's edition, featuring the surprising addition of capers from the sun-drenched isle of Pantelleria, offers a distinctive flavor profile, one that sets it apart not just from Monkey 47’s previous installments in the series, but also from anything else in your collection.
What They're Saying: Monkey 47’s Distiller’s Cut has consistently wowed the critics. Esquire’s 2023 Spirit Awards chose it as a must-have bottling, while Forbes hailed it earlier this year as one of the Best Gins of 2024.
Our Tasting Notes: From the moment you uncork this bottle, you're in for a sensory journey. The familiar Black Forest botanicals greet you like old friends, but there's an intriguing newcomer in the mix. The capers lend a subtle brininess that plays beautifully with the gin's herbal notes, creating a flavor profile that's both familiar and excitingly novel. On the palate, it's a masterful balancing act — spicy, elegant, and dry, with a hint of Mediterranean sunshine. The finish is long and complex, inviting contemplation with each sip. Whether in a G&T or savored neat, this gin showcases the art of distillation at its finest.
The Story: Monkey 47's journey began with an eccentric British wing commander, a German guest house, and a recipe featuring lingonberries. Fast forward to 2010, and Alexander Stein revived this curious concoction, transforming it into the cult favorite we know today. This year's edition of their much-revered Distiller’s Cut series tells a tale of serendipity. While enjoying a classic Italian dish of pasta with anchovies and capers, the Monkey 47 team had an epiphany. Their quest for the perfect caper led them to Pantelleria, a tiny volcanic island in the Strait of Sicily. Here, at La Nicchia di Pantelleria, a farm specializing in caper production since 1949, they found their "species rara” — the 48th botanical for this year's Distiller's Cut. The capers from Pantelleria aren't just any capers. Grown in ideal climatic conditions and harvested by hand, they undergo a meticulous salting process that develops their distinctive tangy, slightly pungent flavor. It's this unique profile — nutty, pure, and elegant, with a pronounced sweetness and intense aroma — that caught the distillers' attention as an ideal complement to the existing (and symphonic) botanical mix.
The Specs: The magic starts with 47 botanicals, including juniper, lingonberries, and an array of herbs and spices from the Black Forest. These are macerated and distilled twice for exceptional purity. For the Distiller's Cut, the 48th botanical — in this case, the Pantellerian capers — is added to this already complex mix.
ABV: 47% (94 proof).
Fun Fact: The caper harvest on Pantelleria is so labor-intensive and culturally significant that it has inspired its own narrative genre in local folklore. These stories, passed down through generations, celebrate the craft and dedication behind this "green gold" of the Mediterranean.
Our Guarantee: We always buy and source direct, so rest assured – your gin will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance.
With only 4,000 bottles available stateside, we urge you to secure yours today. Don't miss your chance to experience this extraordinary fusion of Black Forest tradition and Mediterranean flair!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Winter 2024 (Dec 21, 2024 - Mar 20, 2025). All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer only valid in AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, MA, NV & TX. This offer will expire on Sunday, October 20th, 2024.