Toshihide Abe, owner of Yoyogi Uehara's Fireking Café, which is hosting a Black Forest Fair until August 31, 2020 (Monday). Mr. Abe was one of the participants who visited the Black Forest distillery in February of this year. In this article, he shares his candid impressions from his visit and the allure of "MONKEY 47."

"While the bottle of 'MONKEY 47' is cool, like an apothecary's vial, and its modern design is intriguing, what struck me most when I visited the distillery was that it's truly a local spirit deeply connected to its land," says Toshihide Abe, owner of Fireking Café.

In Germany's southwestern Black Forest region, approximately 20,000 schnapps distilleries, producing spirits from fruits and herbs, still operate today. Distillation techniques have been refined here for centuries. Considering this history, it's perhaps natural that "MONKEY 47," employing sophisticated distillation techniques, was born in the Black Forest.

"Previously, gin typically used around 10 to 20 botanicals. In contrast, 'MONKEY 47' incorporates 47 different herbs, spices, and fruits. It's the only gin where the flavors and aromas of these diverse ingredients can be perceived over an extended period. I believe this profound experience paved the way for today's craft gin trend," says Mr. Abe.

Mr. Abe still vividly recalls the aroma that filled the distillery. He describes the memory as being "as if I had plunged myself into a bottle of perfume."

"I myself peeled citrus fruits like lemons and grapefruits there. The ingredients for maceration were peeled that very morning, emphasizing freshness. I was truly impressed by this artisanal touch, characteristic of small-batch production."

"When you actually taste 'MONKEY 47,' you first notice grapefruit and citrus aromas, followed by berries, and after a while, spicy herbs and pepper emerge. The ability to enjoy the flavors unfolding over time is something I hadn't experienced with other gins. In that sense, it's an item to be savored slowly, much like whisky," Mr. Abe explains.

Mr. Abe enjoys "MONKEY 47" neat at room temperature, similar to how he drinks whisky. He suggests chilling the palate with ice for about 10 seconds before taking a sip to fully appreciate the diverse aromas.

"However, drinking it straight can be quite potent, so at the bar, we recommend it with tonic or soda. Since 'MONKEY 47' is akin to a perfectly crafted blended whisky, I believe drinking it as is best preserves its charm," says Mr. Abe.

Fireking Café is currently holding a Black Forest Fair until August 31, 2020 (Monday). During this period, the Dry Gin, normally priced at 1400 yen, is available for a special price of 900 yen (excluding tax). You can also try rare bottles such as the distillery-exclusive Smokehouse Cut, which Mr. Abe personally brought back from Germany. For more details, please refer to this article!

[Limited Time!] "MONKEY 47" Fair at 3 Bars in Tokyo | MONKEY 47
https://openers.jp/lounge/lounge_features/DZGCL

Fireking Café
A landmark café and bar located a 2-minute walk from Yoyogi Uehara Station. Behind the bar counter, as the name suggests, vintage tableware made by Fire-King is displayed. Don't miss the art exhibitions on the walls inside (from July 20th to August 10th, Kazuhiko Nagi's recent exhibition "Namiai" will be featured).

Address | 1-30-8 Uehara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Phone | 03-3469-7911
Weekday Lunch | 11:30 AM - 6:00 PM
Weekday Dinner & Bar Time | 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Last Order)
Weekends & Holidays Lunch | 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Weekends & Holidays Dinner & Bar Time | 6:00 PM - 2:00 AM (Last Order)
Reservations | Available for dinner time
Event Period | Ongoing - August 31 (Monday)
URL |https://www.facebook.com/firekingcafe/For details on the fair, please visit our Facebook page.