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."
Very different to some but very nice
This is my favourite whisky out of my whole cabinet! It is smooth and creamy and goes down a treat however I have found that the best way to drink this is over ice.
This is one of my favourite whiskey ! I like it!
I've been into whiskey for a couple of years and just recently got into scotch. Based on some research I found out that Monkey Shoulder was generally thought to be priced below its taste. I had high hopes going in but my anticipation quickly turned to confusion. I don't know what exactly this is, but it's definitely not scotch. It has that bourbon kick like a Knob Creek and tastes like a sweet version of Woodford Reserve with someone whispering, "scotch", in your ear. Overall, in my opinion, it sits right in the middle between, "Would buy again" and "Worth a try". I would probably rate Monkey Shoulder at a 6.75/10 but I'll give it a 7/10 since the bottle is so cool. If you're still reading my comment at this point, let me give you a word of advice; never trust that if something is sold in a larger quantity, it is cheaper per unit. The 4.5L bottle on this website is sold for ~$259 while the 750ml (0.75L) bottle is sold for ~$30. This means that you could get 4.5L of this for $79 less ($180) if you actually bought in smaller quantities. You have no idea how common this is in items like grocery stores. They try to give off the illusion that you're getting a better deal by buying the bigger size but in reality their screwing you over. Okay... I'm done.
Freaking awseome
