Monkey 47 Distiller's Cut 2021

About this bottle

The secret 48th ingredient in Distiller's Cut 2021

Every year, the question returns: what's the extra ingredient in Monkey 47 Distiller's Cut this time? After Mizunara casks from Japan in 2020 and mace in 2019, this year's star is an ingredient from closer to home. Scarlet bee balm still sounds special, though, and takes the lead in 2021.

If you'd like to learn more about Monkey 47 and the 2020 Distiller's Cut, listen to the episode of the fabulous Gin.Show podcast with Axel Klubescheidt from Monkey 47. You'll learn plenty about Monkey 47, how it's made and its history.

Working with a local grower

The bee balm's wonderfully bright red flowers, with many branching from each stem, were selected together with Gerhard Daumüller, who runs Keltenhof not far from Monkey 47's hallowed halls. Under his care and supervision, the plants were grown in a greenhouse and harvested in full bloom. Alexander Stein couldn't miss the harvest either.

Process and distillation

After harvesting, the flowers were dried before joining the other 47 Monkey botanicals for maceration. A second extraction distillation drew out the Species Rara aromas. After distillation, the spirit rests and matures in clay jars for three months before spring water brings it down to its bottling strength of 47% ABV.

Aroma and flavour

Smell the 2021 Distiller's Cut and you won't find the unmistakable Monkey 47 aroma. Instead, an intriguing cloud of lemon-like and herbal aromas reaches your nose. To me, it's almost a little woody: very light, adding lovely depth to the citrus note.

There's no run-of-the-mill 47 in the flavour either. The freshness is there again, with a slightly bitter, herbal twist. A lovely kick arrives in the middle too. Something about the aroma reminds me a little of nettles. After that first burst of flavour, you'll recognise some familiar traits that many people love in Monkey 47: lots of individual aromas that can seem fruity one moment and spicy the next. Whenever I get the chance to try a Distiller's Cut, I'm amazed at the extraordinary changes a single botanical among so many can bring.

Bergamot is probably a good description, at least for the aroma, and one many people will recognise. But there's more than just that extra note making the 2021 Cut so exciting in the glass.

Bottle and design

Where other special editions aim to make a big change through packaging, Monkey 47 stays true to its approach again this year. There are only small tweaks to the familiar design: a gold-coloured rim at the cork instead of silver, or the little identifier on the label, which is scarlet red this time. The back label carries the number and a few details.

The release and how to buy it

Once again, only 4,000 bottles of 500 ml are available for the whole world outside the USA. For the USA, there's a run of 4,000 bottles at 375 ml. As in the past few years, online purchases are only possible through a draw. The Monkey 47 website offers another chance to register for the draw from 23 September 2021.

As an alternative to the online lottery, you can also try to get a bottle and taste the gin on the Monkeykiosk Tour. The provisional dates are:

• Berlin — 30 September 2021 from 18:00

• Cologne — 30 September 2021 from 18:00

• Munich — 30 September 2021 from 18:00

• Stuttgart — 30 September 2021 from 18:00

• Vienna — 30 September 2021 from 18:00

You'll find full details on Monkey 47's website and social profiles.

Final thoughts on Distiller's Cut 2021

Even if the start of special-edition season feels like an annual routine, Monkey 47 gets things off to a good start again this year. The gin is fun, quite literally refreshingly different, and there's more to it than simply throwing in some lemon and calling it done. The almost woody notes, that kick of heat and the herbal undertone make this a great special edition. Well done, Monkey!

Monkey's 47 Distiller's Cut 2021 features bee balm, also known as scarlet bee balm or Oswego tea, as its Species rara — the closely guarded 48th ingredient in the distillate. The plant smells of lemon, and its leaves can be used for tea, seasoning or eating.