Monkey 47 Gin has welcomed its first barrel-aged gin to Malaysia: the Monkey 47 Barrel Cut. This masterfully handcrafted and unfiltered Barrel Cut is unique in its complexity and yet accentuates great British traditions.
Aged in Mulberry Casks the Barrel Cut is a true Monkey 47 but nevertheless a whole different one.
In conjunction with the launch, Monkey 47 Malaysia hosted media friends for an exclusive tasting of the Monkey 47 Barrel Cut at Astor Bar The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur followed by a special one-night-only Funky Monkey guestshift at Tickets Bar KL featuring the co-founder and Chief Bartender of the renowned Bar Trench in Tokyo Rogerio Igarashi Vaz.
For the guestshift, Rogerio created four cocktails featuring both the iconic Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin as well as the limited-edition Monkey 47 Barrel Cut:
- Bella Fonte
- Monkey 47 Barrel Cut Gin, Fino Sherry, Honey, Lemon, Prosecco, Grapefruit Bitters, Sweet Basil, Mulberry
- Panettone Fizz
- Panettone-infused Monkey 47 Dry Gin, Jameson Black Barrel, Honey, Lemon Egg White, Green Absinthe Soda
- Petruchio
- Monkey 47 Dry Gin. Aperol, Simple Syrup, Lemon, Orange Bitters
- Chai Martinez
- Monkey 47 Barrel Cut Gin, Chai Sweet Vermouth, Pear Eau de Vie, Angostura Bitters
The guestshift also marked the beginning of Tickets KL Bar (Tickets) being deemed a Monkey 47 Temple Bar so patrons can continue to look forward to more fun activations, guestshifts, and exclusive promotions at Tickets from the brand throughout the year.
Tickets KL Bar is the brainchild of the renowned PS150 Team located in the heart of Damasara Heights.
Disguised as an ordinary office space, the venue adds a touch of intrigue as guests embark on a mysterious and whimsical journey upon arrival at Tickets with a fun surprise awaiting them on the other side of the wall.
Stay tuned to Tickets KL Bar’s socials for more updates on the Funky Monkey Christmas happening next month.
A Rare Monkey
After several years of sensory research and experimentation with all kinds of wood in search of the Monkey’s perfect companion, Monkey 47 adopted a very traditional approach in its hunt for the perfect barrel-aged Monkey 47.
The search found its way to the Palatinate of southwest Germany where wooden barrels are still made by hand for the maturation and refinement of distillates.
Now long since forgotten, the rare wood of the mulberry tree was once traditionally used for these purposes in connection with the finest distillates the Black Forest had to offer. This highly aromatic substance is one of the most redolent woods available.
The unique colour and aroma it yields during maturation result in a deep golden yellow and an elegant hint of subtle sweetness.
The mulberry barrels used by Monkey 47 are made entirely by hand by a traditional cooper well-versed in the intricate procedure this requires. Only new 110-litre vessels are used to store and age the Monkey 47 Barrel Cut for 180 days.
Before being filled these barrels are lightly toasted on the inside which adds myriad notes to the range of aromas they lend to their contents.
The first fill draws the desired aromas from the wood when they are at their strongest. The barrels are then stored in a granary that was built to be sound and solid back in 1840 which now provides for a constant climate and a balanced temperature curve throughout the year.
Malaysians are privileged to be able to enjoy a taste of this “rare species” in selected cocktail bars around the country:
- Tickets KL Bar (Kuala Lumpur)
- Astor Bar The St Regis Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur)
- Three X Co (Kuala Lumpur)
- Jann Four Points by Sheraton (Kuala Lumpur)
- G-String (Kuala Lumpur)
- Backdoor Bodega (Penang)
- The Mandarin Bar (Penang)
- Tiga Bar (Ipoh)
- Budi (Melaka)
- Haiiro Usagi (Johor Bahru)
Each of these bars will be offering special Monkey 47 Gin cocktails featuring both the Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin and Monkey 47 Barrel Cut.
The Icon of Monkey 47
The special edition Monkey 47 Barrel Cut is an extension of the craftsmanship and complex flavours of the iconic Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin.
The gin is known for its unique blend of 47 botanicals ranging from fresh and uncommon berries like lingonberries, blackberries, and honey pomelo to more typical botanicals used in gin such as angelica, coriander, chamomile, and sage.
Interestingly, the 47 in the name does not only refer to the number of botanicals used in the blend but also to its ABV percentage of 47%.
The iconic bottle and distinguishing flavour of the Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Dry Gin have made it a cult classic that is renowned by gin aficionados and bartenders across the globe.
Whether on its own in a refreshing gin and tonic or a classic cocktail, the flavours of Monkey 47 truly stand out with its fruity and slightly bitter end note from the addition of lingonberries to its list of botanicals.
For more information on Monkey 47 and its offerings visit www.monkey47.com or purchase a bottle for yourself from the Pernod Ricard Malaysia Official Shopee Store.
