Salted Capers Collide with Juniper in Monkey 47’s Latest Wildly Inventive Gin Release

(Photo: Monkey 47)

On Tuesday, Germany-based Monkey 47 Gin announced that its latest Distiller’s Cut bottling will include a splash of capers from the island of Pantelleria. Never could we imagine a gin better suited for a dirty martini.

Inspired by the classic Italian dish spaghetti puttanesca, the Monkey 47 team traveled to the so-called “Black Pearl of the Mediterranean,” a nine-mile-long volcanic island located off the eastern coast of mainland Sicily. There, they discovered La Nicchia di Pantelleria farm, where capers have been produced in the balmy climate for over 75 years.

Before distillation, the capers underwent a “meticulous” two-step salting process said to release a nutty, slightly pungent flavor. The capers were then macerated and distilled alongside the brand’s signature blend of 47 botanicals which includes the likes of juniper, almonds, coriander, honeysuckle, chamomile, licorice and cranberry.

“We realized that capers can be more than just a garnish for a tried-and-tested pasta recipe,” founder Alexander Stein remarked in a news release. “Monkey 47 Distiller’s Cut Edition 14 – Capparis offers a remarkable flavor experience – and not only for those who want to think themselves away onto that small volcanic island in the Mediterranean.”

The expression, dubbed Capparis, is bottled at 47% ABV. The gin is now available at a suggested retail price of $79.99 for a 375ml bottle.

It’s the latest in a longstanding tradition. Each year, the distiller adds an unexpected 48th botanical — what it calls a “species rara” — into its Distiller’s Cut release. Past editions have included maple syrup, woodruff, scarlet beebalm flowers, honey and even mustard. Capparis is the 14th limited bottling in the series.

Monkey 47 was launched in 2010 by distiller Christoph Keller and former Nokia executive Alexander Stein. The brand was designed as an ode to Germany’s Black Forest from which a third of the gin’s botanicals are foraged. Best known for its flagship Schwarzwald Dry Gin expression, Monkey 47 was acquired by French spirits giant Pernod Ricard in 2016.

“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,” Muriel Dessenis, Global VP Marketing Gins at Pernod Ricard, added. “The legendary 48th 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!”