Monkey 47 Schwarzwald Sloe Gin is the sloe gin from Monkey 47, built on the distillery’s Black Forest botanical base and softened by sloe berries. It is lower in strength than the dry gin and naturally fruitier, but it should still be read as a gin-led sloe bottling rather than as a simple berry liqueur.

The nose brings red fruit, plum skin, almond-like stone-fruit notes and the darker spice of the Monkey 47 base. On the palate, sloe berries give tart fruit and colour, while juniper, herbs and spice prevent the drink from becoming jammy. The finish is sweet-tart, gently bitter and more complex than a standard fruit gin.

This bottle works best when served cold and not over-diluted. It can be enjoyed over ice, lengthened with lemon tonic or soda, or used in cocktails where red fruit and dry botanicals need to meet. It is especially useful for drinkers who want fruit without losing the forest-and-spice character of Monkey 47.

For the Perfect Serve, lemon tonic or a cold, citrus-led mixer is better than a very sweet pairing. Lemon gives lift to the sloe berries, while the gin base brings herbs, spice and a dry finish. A simple lemon zest is usually enough. The import-ready version uses 10 cl of Fever-Tree Lemon Tonic Water, with lemon twist.

The best glass keeps a little bite. If the sloe fruit becomes too sweet, the Monkey 47 base is lost; if the citrus is too sharp, the berry disappears. A measured lemon tonic keeps the two sides close enough to taste together.

It is worth positioning it apart from classic dry gin. The lower strength and sloe fruit change the pace, but the Black Forest botanical base gives it more depth than most easy red-fruit serves.