The Social Drinker

Finds a superior G&T

In many ways, it must have been tremendous fun to be a member of the victorious Allied forces stationed in Germany after the war. Life in Berlin seems to have been a mixture of parties and Cold War espionage that must have made life back home in Britain or Ireland seem rather dull.

One soldier who knew how to have a good time was the colourfully named Montgomery Collins, a Royal Air Force wing commander who moved to the Black Forest to learn watchmaking in the 1950s, but then developed an interest in distilling, which is a popular side job for farmers in the region.

Motivated by the desire for a gin in the English tradition, he invented Schwarzwald Dry Gin, and proceeded to name it after the 47 flowers and berries used to make the drink, and a monkey he liked in Berlin’s famous zoo — he was stationed in the city immediately after the war.

I’m not a fan of gimmicky names. I’m just too old to like cutesy anything any more, but with a back-story like that, it is easy to forgive a gin named Monkey 47 — Schwarzwald Dry Gin (pictured below), especially when it tastes as good as it does.

Generally, most gins taste fairly similar to one another. The tonic water, rather than the gin itself, is often the decisive factor when it comes to preferring one gin over another.

Monkey 47 is a cut above most gins, and it comes with an intoxicating perfume of zingy citrus, along with flavours such as liquorice, cardamom and herbal juniper. You need to taste it neat to experience this, and then move on to a mixer.

During the recent hot weather, a wonderful friend introduced me to this easy-to-find and highly recommended gin, mixed with elderflower tonic, ice and a slice of orange. It was the ideal summer’s evening drink after one of those perfect barbecues we have all been enjoying.