Monkey Shoulder is one of the modern Scotch world's great success stories, a smooth, richly flavored blended malt that helped redefine how people drink and mix Scotch. Created by William Grant and Sons, the family company behind Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, it is a vatting of three Speyside single malts, traditionally drawn from the Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie distilleries, with no grain whisky in the blend at all. The three monkeys on the bottle represent those three distilleries. Launched in 2003 as a deliberately approachable, bartender friendly alternative to traditional blends, it broke away from Scotch's stuffy image and quickly became a fixture of cocktail bars worldwide. The name pays tribute to the maltmen who hand turned barley with a wooden shovel, a repetitive task that could leave the arm hanging like a monkey's shoulder. Married in small batches of around twenty seven casks, hence the Batch 27 on the label, and matured in first fill ex bourbon barrels, it delivers a smooth, mellow, and versatile profile. Expect a rich gold pour with a creamy nose of citrus, crisp red apple, vanilla, and warm spice, a smooth, fruit forward palate of vanilla, cinnamon, stone fruit, and a touch of milk chocolate and malt, and a clean, mellow finish. Bottled at a slightly above standard 43 percent ABV, it is smooth enough to enjoy neat or over ice yet bold enough to shine in cocktails, where it truly excels, from an Old Fashioned to a whisky sour. An outstanding, easygoing, and endlessly mixable malt at a friendly price.
ABV / Proof
| Producer |
William Grant and Sons, Speyside, Scotland |
| Category |
Blended Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Region |
Speyside |
| Expression |
The Original (Batch 27) |
| Composition |
Vatting of three Speyside single malts (traditionally Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Kininvie) |
| Age |
No Age Statement |
| Maturation |
First Fill Ex Bourbon Casks; blended in small batches |
| ABV |
43% |
| Proof |
86 |
| Bottle Size |
750ml |
| Country |
Scotland |
Tasting Notes
Color: Rich gold.
Nose: Citrus, crisp red apple, vanilla, and warm spice.
Palate: Smooth and fruit forward, with vanilla, cinnamon, stone fruit, malt, and a touch of milk chocolate.
Finish: Clean and mellow, with lingering vanilla and gentle spice.
FAQ
What is a blended malt? A blended malt is a blend of single malt whiskies from more than one distillery, with no grain whisky. Monkey Shoulder combines three Speyside single malts, which sets it apart from both single malts and standard blended Scotch.
Which distilleries are in it? Traditionally Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie, all owned by William Grant and Sons. The three monkeys on the bottle represent these three distilleries.
What does Batch 27 mean? Each batch is married from around twenty seven casks, which is where the Batch 27 name comes from. It is a signature of the blend, not a limited release.
What proof is it? It is bottled at 43 percent ABV, or 86 proof, slightly above the standard 40 percent.
How should I drink it? It is designed for versatility, excellent neat or over ice and especially good in cocktails like an Old Fashioned or whisky sour.
Where can I buy Monkey Shoulder online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
