The Corona Gorda Crush (well, I still can’t think of a better name) – Cohiba Siglo IV (HRS Mar 19) – Monkey 47 Sloe Gin.

To be honest, I have used this gin with a number of cigars as it is proving an allrounder of sublime ability. In fact, I really struggle to think of another individual drink which has worked so well with such a wide array of cigars. 

The cigar is a legend – no one needs me to tell them that. The Cohiba Siglo IV (HRS Mar 19). And it more than lived up to that reputation. As I mentioned in Rob’s last video, it was as good as, if not better, than any Sig IV I can ever recall. If this is current form, then load up! 

Looked immaculate and there was a firm draw. It was rich and dense from the very start. Honey crept in. A hint of milk chocolate. Richness here. We then moved into creamy coffee, cinnamon and citrus touches. Dense and rich, it continued. For me, this was smoking as a little fuller and richer than most Cohiba. The flavours got darker and (yes, a most overused word here) richer as we progressed. An absolute cracker. I thought it was worth 96. It was that good. 

And as I mentioned, a wonderful match with the Monkey 47 Sloe Gin. Personally, Monkey 47 is my favourite international gin (my fave Aussie is Four Pillars, which I say because I firmly believe this and not because the guys behind it are good mates, but I would say that). But, and I say this even though my mate Stu at Four Pillars is a spin doctor par excellence, no one has a story to match the Monkey. 

We start with a cricket-loving RAF Wing Commander, the city of Madras and a special monkey from the Berlin Zoo. Move to a failed watchmaker and Germany’s Black Forest. And of course, gin. 

Wing Commander Montgomery Collins, born in India, spent his formative years with his diplomat father in Madras (not quite sure why a diplomat was based in Madras and not in Delhi – or Calcutta, if they were old enough, given it preceded New Delhi – but no matter). After the War (WWII), Monty was posted to Germany to assist in the rebuilding of the defeated nation. Part of his duties included the rebuilding of the Berlin Zoo. One of the surviving inhabitants of the Zoo was an egret monkey (a type of macaque), known as Max. Really hard to imagine how Max dodged both bombs and stews. 

After he was discharged from the RAF (honourably), Monty decided to stay in Germany – there are rumours a woman may have been involved but who knows. He had an interest in watches and decided horology was for him. He was wrong. 

Monty failed in his efforts to become a watchmaker and so adjourned to the Black Forest, as one does, to open a guest house. He named it ‘Zum Wilden Affen’, which I am assured means ‘a wild monkey’. The name was to honour Max. 

Being English and ex-RAF, Monty was inevitably keen on a gin and eventually decided to have a crack at making his own. The result was a few bottles, one of which ended up in a box in the basement, along with, supposedly, the recipe. Apparently, Monty felt that his efforts at gin were no more successful than watches. Again, Monty was wrong. 

Many years later, long after Monty (and presumably Max) had left us, the Guest House was being refurbished and the box in the basement was discovered. The gin was considered to be a success. The bottle, picturing a monkey, was labelled ‘Max the Monkey – Schwarzwald Gin’. 

Monty’s recipe has been tinkered with a little but it is apparently very close. The current team use 47 botanicals (usually, you get around six, maybe even up to a dozen), some of which are linked to Monty’s childhood in Madras. The recipe is a closely guarded secret but some of the herbs, spices and botanicals reputedly include six different types of pepper, peel from bitter oranges and lemons, pomelos, spruce shoots and lingonberries, cassia, angelica root, honeysuckle, jasmine, lemongrass, nutmeg, rosehip, orris (I thought Orris was an ancient Egyptian Goddess), bramble leaves, Grains of Paradise, liquorice, hibiscus, dog rose (what on earth a dog rose is, I have no idea), cloves, Kaffir limes and so much more. The pristine water from the Black Forest is used. As well as 47 botanicals, the gin ends up at 47%. 

We can look at more about Monkey 47 on another occasion, but we need to address the Sloe Gin. The sloe is also known as blackthorn (prunus spinosa) and is closely related to plums. It was once grown to protect farmers from ‘the gaze of witches’ (perhaps it provided the necessary courage?). The berries are harvested after the first frost and then macerated in Monkey 47 for four weeks. The liquid is basically skimmed to remove any sediment and then water from the Black Forest is added to bring the alcohol level back to 29% (their one gin which is not 47%). 

There are soft berry notes here. Plums with a hint of pepper and smoke. Cherries. Plus licorice and a hint of very mild chocolate. Cherry liqueur notes. Soft and clean, with really impressive length. Has a delightful Turkish Delight character to it. A joy to drink and it really does have a real Christmassy character about it. For what it is worth, given everything in life must have a score, 95. 

As a match, the complexity and the slight intrusion of sweetness work wonders. Cracking cigar. Cracking gin. Cracking match. 

KBG