Guests were transported to Germany’s Black Forest as they weaved through the mystical story of Monkey 47 Schwarzwald dry gin at Catbird. Read on to catch a glimpse of the magic. 
Senior Brand Manager for Monkey 47, Bert Saville, welcomes guests to Apartment 47 at Catbird in Dallas.
In the mystical depths of Germany's enchanting Black Forest, where ancient tales, marvelous mountains and luxurious offerings collide, lies the magical realm of Monkey 47 Schwarzwald dry gin. Born from the alchemy of tradition and innovation, this elegant gin is a symphony of 47 handpicked botanicals, such as the lingonberry—a Black Forest staple. The Black Forest, or Schwarzwald in German, is home to over a third of these essential ingredients, including natural spring water and particularly aromatic berry and fruit varieties. Along with the iconic dry gin distillery, dubbed “The Wild Monkey,” the Black Forest is also known for its sumptuous spas, Michelin-starred restaurants and opulent cuckoo clocks—crafted in the region since the 1700s. Each sip of a Monkey 47 cocktail invites drinks connoisseurs to explore the history, allure and magic of their 47 carefully selected botanicals.
Monkey 47 Schwarzwald dry gin is crafted in Germany’s Black Forest. Photo courtesy of Monkey 47.
Partnering with Modern Luxury, Monkey 47 is inviting select cities across the nation to step into its lavish world—"Das Wunderzimmer" (The Wonder Room) in Apartment 47—where the enigmatic beauty of the Black Forest meets the elegance of contemporary mixology to forge an enthralling night of discovery. Read on to embark on a journey through time and taste, where each bespoke Monkey 47 cocktail is a sip of magic from the heart of the Black Forest.
What We Tasted
Catbird’s signature Monkey 47 cocktail, The Texas Two Step, was delivered perfectly chilled from the Monkey Maschine.
Created by mixologist Elijah Salazar, Catbird’s signature Apartment 47 cocktail, The Texas Two Stepdraws inspiration from the complex, layered 47 botanicals of Monkey 47. This dynamic cocktail accentuates the gin’s citrusy, fruity and herbal notes, highlighting its natural essence with a Dallas touch of locally-sourced honey and basil. Thoughtfully crafted with a beautiful blend of Monkey 47 Schwarzwald dry gin, Chambord, basil-honey syrup and lemon, The Texas Two Step combines Black Forest vibes with Dallas flavors.
What We Heard
Amberlux put on an exciting live DJ set.
As we sipped, we listened to the magical musical makings of Amberlux, a live DJ who embodies the essence of Das Wunderzimmer in Apartment 47. Born and raised in Germany, Amberlux spent his summers in Schwarzwald, exactly where every handcrafted drop of Monkey 47 Schwarzwald dry gin is made. Bringing that Black Forest essence to Apartment 47 in Dallas, Amberlux transforms the unique story of the city into vibrant, live sets. Want to experience it for yourself? Visit the Apartment 47 x Amberlux website to download the live set from Catbird. Take it from one of Catbird’s Apartment 47 guests, Marielle Weisman: "I'm looking up DJ Amberlux on SoundCloud right now. He's one of the best DJs I've ever seen!"
What We Saw
Monkey 47’s Schwarzwald Scarf Stylist individually styled guests in bespoke yellow silk scarves created solely for Dallas’ tastemakers in attendance.
Characters from the Black Forest guided us through Catbird to explore the mystical world of Apartment 47. Upon entering, we watched as a live artist meticulously customized the Monkey 47 Book of Spirits for guests to take home; then, each guest was styled by The Schwarzwald Scarf Stylist with tropical, monkey-adorned yellow silk neck scarves, reminiscent of the Black Forest botanicals. Finally, we arrived at the Monkey Maschine, a cocktail machine resembling an old-school buggy, where we got to taste the custom-crafted Texas Two Step cocktail.
What We’ll Be Drinking All Summer
The botanical bar served up three different cocktails highlighting different groupings of Monkey 47’s botanicals.
At the Botanical Bar, we found our perfect summer cocktail inspiration. Crafted by Julian Langestraat, Monkey 47's Global Brand Ambassador, each cocktail highlights a different grouping of Monkey 47’s 47 botanicals. The Black Forest Fizz cocktail spotlights the gin’s floral botanicals — lavender, wild honeysuckle and the blossoms of Black Forest Acacias, and imported North American Monarda didyma. Made with lemon juice, lavender syrup, soda water and Monkey 47, this cocktail is approachable enough to recreate at home. To bring that Black Forest essence to your own party, be sure to garnish this cocktail with a lavender sprig.
What We Felt
Guests spun the Wheel-O-Wunder to choose a Monkey 47 cocktail.
Between mingling, enjoying Amberlux’s set and sipping Monkey 47 cocktails, it’s safe to say guests were enchanted by Apartment 47. One of the event’s most popular features was the Schwarzwald Scarf Stylist. “The scarf stylist was so much fun,” guest Kathleen Kemp said. “The stories he told about the brand as he tied my hair up made the experience that much more personal."
And for the guests who just couldn’t decide on a cocktail, the Wheel-O-Wunder came to the rescue. "I'm putting the fate of my drink in the hands of this light-up wheel,” guest Reade Lambeth said. “Yes! The Juicy Martini is the one I wanted!"
While you might not have experienced the real Apartment 47 at Catbird, you, too, can summon the magical realm of Monkey 47 in your own home. Recreate one of the event’s signature cocktails, access Amberlux’s playlist and watch your space (and tastebuds) transform.
Photo courtesy of Thomas Garza.
Photography by: Courtesy of Thomas Garza