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."
I'm well into my second bottle of Monkey Shoulder and I thoroughly enjoy it. It's got a lovely sweeter start and that spicy finish is the perfect punch. Great blend at a very reasonable price. I've used it in Rusty Nails and it's lovely there too. Highly recommend.
Being a big fan of single malt whiskey I must admit I really can't fault this blended whiskey. Easy drinking and quite pleasant.
Prefer singles but this blended will stay on my shelf. I get a creamy vanilla maple flavor with a bit of clove. Very palatable. Will intoduce this to friends too afraid to try scotch.
What an awesome bottle. It is so damn smooth and packed with some good flavor. I could drink this again and again and again...and the price is fantastic! One of my new favorite scotches!
This bottle works for me as an addition to my scotch collection of higher priced bottles. It’s probably a young blend since it has a little bite and flavors are subtle. My suggestion would be to have this on your bar, along with other bottles of scotch.
