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."
Great blend, very smooth. A fruity, sweet but not over overpoweringly sweet, whisky, that is very easy to drink. Leaves a very refreshing after taste that lingers. I think anyone would be hard pressed to find a blended whisky as smooth and easy drinking as this for the price.
I've had several different varieties of scotch whisky over the years. I would rank Monkey Shoulder alongside my personal favorite and the gem of my collection, 15 year Dalwhinnie. (yes, I know one is highland, the other speyside). My wife, who can't even handle the smell of it, let alone taste most whiskies, actually found it quite palatable. I love the spicy bite of it, and found no issues with it other than the bottle is already looking sparse.
Smooth, creamy, and tasty are three words I would use to describe Monkey Shoulder. Got it for $30.99 and my goodness, is it worth it. The best blended Scotch I've ever had!
There are not words that exist to explain the positively awful initial flavor of the first so that I took, but it was followed up with an after taste that I could only imagine would be similar to a combination of rubbing alcohol mixed with Ipecac.
A pleasant,fragrant,warming drink ,not peaty,good to relax with.
