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."
Perfectly good scotch at an excellent price! Very malt forward Speyside whisky that is not I repeat NOT a blended scotch; this is a blended malt (triple malt, vatted whisky) it is a blend of single malts from three Grant distilleries, nary a grain whisky in it. I've not found a scotch in this price range I've enjoyed more, and I've tried a lot; frankly it is better than a number of single malts at twice the price. I suspect the negative reviewers would be giving it glowing praise if they tasted it blind and were told it was a single malt. Don't prejudge, give it a try, at this price what do you have to lose?
It's a good scotch for the price and worth a try but you won't find yourself going out of your way to buy it a second time if you have a couple favorites.
Just tried this today because it was in budget and looked fun. I have to say for the price, this is by far better than some of the older scotches I have tried. I love the chocolate/coffee notes at the end on my palate. I am so glad I discovered this and would recommend anyone who hasn't tried this to do so. This is a scotch you share with others because its flavors bring joy to all that try it.
Spooky coincidence... why? Because I've wrote review here EXACTLY three years ago to this day, on 10th of June 2015 and I gave it half a star, being probably the worst scotch I've tried in my life. Here's that review from three years ago: "Stay away from this whisky, I have tried A LOT of different whisky brands and this is not a matter of taste, there's just something very, very wrong with this piece of crap. It has a very intense smell of wet newspapers, damp cardboxes, I can smell mold and sweat. Yes, sweat, body odour witch lingers in your mouth even if you have a spicy meal after a dram! My God, worse spend money on whisky EVER, i hope that this kind of disappointment never happens again." So few days ago I decided to give it a try again, what can I loose but 20 euros? I've opened it today and what a surprise and confusion! Where's that awful whisky that I remember? Sweet, malty, smooth and great sipping scotch whisky! What the heck?! Then I come here to scroll way down to my last review and I see that I've written it exactly three years ago. What a coincidence. OK but what has happened to Monkey Shoulder? Is really that different today or have I just gone mad? Im terribly sorry I didn't save a few samples from that awful bottle three years ago, that would be interesting. Well, for what it's worth, really solid blended malt. Really solid and worth four stars in its category and price range. Over and out :-)
Dont let the cheap price fool you this whisky is amazing. Great whisky with cheap price i highly recomend it. Great for beginners
