Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
Monkey Shoulder · William Grant & Sons (Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Kininvie)
Monkey Shoulder exists to prove that blended malt can be serious without being complicated. The marriage of three Speyside single malts creates a whisky greater than any one component. It is the bartender's best friend and a useful benchmark for understanding blending ratios.
Kit Aromas
Nose
Honey and vanilla sit right up front, joined by fresh-cut barley malt and a soft orange peel brightness. There is a faint butterscotch undertone that adds warmth without weight.
Palate
Creamy malt and buttery cereal notes give way to baked peach and a gentle clove spice that never overstays. A thread of cocoa appears mid-palate, adding depth to the otherwise approachable body.
Finish
Short to medium, clean on honey and malt with a whisper of vanilla oak.
- Region
- Speyside
- Cask Type
- Ex-bourbon
- Peat Level (PPM)
- Unpeated
- Distillation
- Pot still distillation at each contributing distillery
- Maturation
- First-fill and refill ex-bourbon casks
- Chill-Filtered
- Yes
Cocktail Suggestion
Scotch Penicillin — 2 oz Monkey Shoulder · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.75 oz honey-ginger syrup · Float 0.25 oz smoky Scotch · Shake first four ingredients, strain over fresh ice, float smoky Scotch.
Food Pairing
Smoked salmon on oatcakes with crème fraîche
Crafted by William Grant & Sons by batching single malts from their three Speyside distilleries — Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Kininvie — Monkey Shoulder was designed from inception as a malt whisky built for mixing.
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