Name: Monkey Shoulder
Type: Blended Scotch
Origin: Scotland
ABV: 43%
Price: $29.99 from my local liquor store
I wanted to switch it up this week with a libation review, specifically one from the land of Scotland. It’s actually been quite awhile since anything from Scotland has entered the house, mostly because of our forays into the wonderful world of Caribbean Rum. Hailing from the Speyside region of Scotland, the interestingly-named Monkey Shoulder comes from three different single malt whiskies from the region. I know that I have had it at a tasting or two but have never bought a bottle outright. I’m sure there will be no complaints from anyone in my house (my wife) for the purchase. On with the review.
The nose on the blended whiskey gives a balanced fragrance of vanilla and citrus. The vanilla aroma is especially prominent when pulling the cork from the bottle. The opening notes on the whiskey is heavy vanilla overall on the palette. I also noticed touches of spice in the middle of the palette while the noted citrus notes, while faint, came about on the aftertaste. While I find overall that it lacks in complexity, the flavor profile would appeal to a broad range of whiskey drinkers. The Monkey Shoulder website considers this blended whiskey perfect for mixed drinks. I could easily see this being used in a number of ways if you prefer this method of drinking whiskey. In fact, the Monkey Shoulder website has a number of cocktails made with Monkey Shoulder listed on their website.
In terms of pairing this blended whiskey, I would almost prefer a cigar that leans toward the stronger side of strength to balance out the heavy vanilla flavors. If you were making a cocktail or mixed drink from Monkey Shoulder, then it would probably depend on what you were making.
Overall, I think the Monkey Shoulder would be great for those who are new to whiskey and want to try something that could be drank by itself or in a cocktail. It’s not overly complex, has a complementary flavor profile and is easy on the pocketbook. Give it a shot the next time you are looking for something new to try.
Final Score: 8.5/10
Thank you very much for reading and I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.
