Monkey 47 Distillery

Geography

Monkey 47 is rooted in the northern Black Forest of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, one of Europe’s most storied landscapes. The region, known in German as the Schwarzwald, stretches across rolling hills and valleys of dense woodland, where towering spruce and fir trees dominate the skyline. This vast forest covers more than 6,000 square kilometers and has long been associated with folklore, traditional crafts, and the production of spirits. Its cool climate, mineral-rich soil, and abundant water sources create an environment well suited to both agriculture and distillation. The distillery is located near the town of Loßburg, a place defined by its highland terrain, meadows, and streams that cut through the forest. The altitude and seasonal changes give the area distinct growing conditions, supporting wild berries, herbs, and flowers that thrive under the canopy of pines. Local springs provide exceptionally soft water, valued for its purity and balance, which has been central to the region’s brewing and distilling traditions for centuries. Beyond its natural resources, the Black Forest is also culturally significant. It lies close to the borders of France and Switzerland, a crossroads that has shaped its traditions and influences. Culinary and distilling practices here often reflect this borderland identity — German precision combined with French and Swiss heritage. In the case of Monkey 47, the geography is more than just a backdrop; it defines the character of the spirit, as many of the botanicals used grow wild or are cultivated within a short distance of the distillery itself. The geography of the region also contributes to the distillery’s identity as a place of seclusion and purity. Unlike urban centers, the Black Forest has preserved much of its natural landscape, offering a sense of timelessness that resonates with the artisanal craft behind Monkey 47. It is both an origin and an inspiration, with the towering trees, wild flora, and flowing streams providing a setting that connects the gin directly to its environment.

Introduction

Monkey 47 is a distillery based in the Black Forest of Germany, celebrated for producing one of the world’s most complex and acclaimed gins. Its origins go back to Montgomery “Monty” Collins, a Royal Air Force Wing Commander born in 1909 in Madras, India, who was stationed in Berlin after the Second World War. Known for his fondness for animals, he sponsored a monkey named Max at the Berlin Zoo and later opened a guesthouse in the Black Forest called “Zum wilden Affen” — The Wild Monkey. Inspired by both his British roots and the abundance of regional fruits and herbs, Collins began experimenting with gin recipes that fused traditional juniper-forward distilling with the unique botanicals of the Black Forest. The recipe he developed eventually faded into obscurity until decades later, in 2006, Alexander Stein, a German entrepreneur, discovered Collins’s notes and was captivated by the story. Determined to bring this forgotten gin back to life, Stein worked with master distiller Christoph Keller and together they undertook more than one hundred trial distillations to refine the formula. Their efforts led to the rebirth of the spirit under the name Monkey 47, which quickly gained a reputation for innovation and craftsmanship. The distillery itself was established in a restored farmstead in the northern Black Forest, where traditional methods and modern precision coexist to produce gin of remarkable quality. What makes Monkey 47 distinct is its complex recipe of forty-seven botanicals. About one third of these are sourced directly from the surrounding forest, including lingonberries, spruce shoots, bramble leaves, and acacia flowers, while others come from around the world, such as fresh citrus peels, exotic spices, and rare herbs. The base spirit is made from molasses, chosen for its ability to carry a wide spectrum of flavors, and it is combined with soft spring water from the Black Forest, renowned for its purity. The distillation process involves careful maceration of botanicals, vapor distillation for the most delicate aromas, and a period of rest in traditional earthenware vessels, all of which contribute to the gin’s layered complexity. The name Monkey 47 reflects both the number of botanicals in the recipe and the gin’s alcoholic strength, while also paying tribute to the monkey Max from Collins’s story. Its presentation in apothecary-style bottles with intricately illustrated labels emphasizes the artisanal, small-batch character of the spirit. Over time, Monkey 47 has become a symbol of the new era of craft gin, helping to elevate German distilling onto the global stage. The distillery produces not only the flagship Schwarzwald Dry Gin but also limited annual releases known as the Distiller’s Cut, where one rare botanical is highlighted each year to create a new expression. These special editions are highly sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike, reflecting the distillery’s commitment to pushing boundaries while honoring its heritage. Monkey 47 has earned international recognition and numerous accolades, admired for its ability to combine historical narrative, regional identity, and extraordinary craftsmanship into a gin that is both timeless and contemporary.

History

The history of Monkey 47 begins with Montgomery “Monty” Collins, born in 1909 in Madras, India, the son of a British diplomat. After serving as a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, Collins was stationed in Berlin, where he developed a reputation for his service in the postwar reconstruction of the city. A lover of animals, he became a patron of the Berlin Zoo and sponsored a monkey named Max, a detail that would later inspire the name of his own establishment. When his military career ended, Collins moved south to the Black Forest region of Baden-Württemberg. There he opened a guesthouse called “Zum wilden Affen,” or “The Wild Monkey.” Drawing on his British heritage and exposure to the gin traditions of England, combined with the abundance of local fruits, herbs, and berries in the Black Forest, he began experimenting with gin recipes that fused two worlds — the classic juniper-led style of London dry gin and the forest character of his new home. Collins’s recipes and notes eventually fell into obscurity, preserved only in fragments of documents, labels, and letters connected to his guesthouse. For decades the story of “The Wild Monkey” and its gin remained largely forgotten, a curious anecdote in the region’s history. It was not until 2006 that Alexander Stein, a German businessman, came across Collins’s legacy and was captivated by it. Stein recognized in this forgotten story the potential to revive a spirit that had both historical weight and regional identity. Stein sought the expertise of master distiller Christoph Keller, one of Germany’s most respected distillers, to reconstruct the recipe. Together they embarked on a long period of experimentation, testing over one hundred distillations in their effort to strike the balance Collins had once sought. Their work culminated in 2010 with the commercial launch of Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin, a modern rebirth that honored the original story while setting new standards for craft gin. With the official founding of Black Forest Distillers GmbH, Monkey 47 quickly established itself not only as a revival of a forgotten recipe but as a symbol of craftsmanship and storytelling in modern spirits. The distillery was set up in a restored Black Forest farmstead, where Stein and his team anchored production firmly in the region that had shaped Collins’s original vision. In the years since, Monkey 47 has become a global reference point for super-premium gin, its history inseparable from the tale of a British officer, a monkey in a Berlin zoo, and a forgotten recipe rediscovered in the heart of Germany’s Black Forest.

Geography

Monkey 47 is rooted in the northern Black Forest of Baden-Württemberg, Germany, one of Europe’s most storied landscapes. The region, known in German as the Schwarzwald, stretches across rolling hills and valleys of dense woodland, where towering spruce and fir trees dominate the skyline. This vast forest covers more than 6,000 square kilometers and has long been associated with folklore, traditional crafts, and the production of spirits. Its cool climate, mineral-rich soil, and abundant water sources create an environment well suited to both agriculture and distillation. The distillery is located near the town of Loßburg, a place defined by its highland terrain, meadows, and streams that cut through the forest. The altitude and seasonal changes give the area distinct growing conditions, supporting wild berries, herbs, and flowers that thrive under the canopy of pines. Local springs provide exceptionally soft water, valued for its purity and balance, which has been central to the region’s brewing and distilling traditions for centuries. Beyond its natural resources, the Black Forest is also culturally significant. It lies close to the borders of France and Switzerland, a crossroads that has shaped its traditions and influences. Culinary and distilling practices here often reflect this borderland identity — German precision combined with French and Swiss heritage. In the case of Monkey 47, the geography is more than just a backdrop; it defines the character of the spirit, as many of the botanicals used grow wild or are cultivated within a short distance of the distillery itself. The geography of the region also contributes to the distillery’s identity as a place of seclusion and purity. Unlike urban centers, the Black Forest has preserved much of its natural landscape, offering a sense of timelessness that resonates with the artisanal craft behind Monkey 47. It is both an origin and an inspiration, with the towering trees, wild flora, and flowing streams providing a setting that connects the gin directly to its environment.