Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt Scotch whisky from William Grant & Sons, crafted using single malts from Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie—no grain whisky in sight. First launched in 2003 as a bartender-friendly alternative to traditional blends, it was aged in first-fill bourbon barrels and blended in small batches to create a smooth, versatile profile ideal for cocktails.
With bold branding that broke away from Scotch’s stuffy image, it became a trailblazer in the early 2000s whisky renaissance. Since then, it’s expanded with variants like Smokey Monkey and Fresh Monkey, keeping the brand fresh and relevant.
Designed for mixing, Monkey Shoulder enhances classic whisky cocktails (where it really excels) like an Old Fashioned or a Whisky Sour. If you're after a whisky that's fun, full of flavour, and has a bit of history behind it, then pick up a bottle of Monkey Shoulder. You won't be disappointed!
Its quirky name nods to a repetitive strain injury once suffered by maltmen turning barley by hand.
An elegant, stylish nose of marmalade, Crema Catalana (apologies, but it really is there), cocoa and malt. Plenty of vanilla and a sprinkling of winter spice (nutmeg, cloves and cinnamon) alongside a mouth-watering hint of aniseed.
Very malty, creamy delivery with a suggestion of berry fruit. Juicy toasted barley, cloves and butterscotch. Manuka honey, hot-buttered-toast and dried apricot develop.
Medium length, spicy oak and a hint of peppermint on the tail.
This is whisky to be enjoyed. According to the Monkey Shoulder website: "Some say it tastes just like riding bareback on the wild moors of Scotland with a flame-haired maiden on Christmas morning. Others agree it tastes like 007 wearing a tuxedo wetsuit."
Let’s start from the bottle, one of the most elegant bottle of scotch whiskey I have ever seen!! The nose is mix of vanilla, cocoa and cinnamon. The palate is absolutely stunning i.e. creamy, fruity and hint of spice. The finish is fruity, mellow and hint of peppermint... Overall it’s an amazing blended scotch whiskey and a must buy!!
I'm a relatively new scotch drinker, and Monkey Shoulder is my favorite so far. Sweet notes in the beginning, with, oddly enough, fairly strong banana tones. My friend absolutely agreed. A nose like no other scotch I've tried. Maybe it's the monkey. Nice flavor, no burn, good finish. Well worth the $35.
Reasonably priced good scotch
Not a bad blend but there's nothing that makes it interesting either. The rating is low because it's more expensive than Bushmills and not as good, in my opinion.
A nice sweet mellow blend,, with lovely after taste,, would recommend to any whisky lover,, ? ?
