Blended Malt

Monkey Shoulder's name honours a real occupational injury from whisky's heritage: distillery workers who manually turned barley developed a distinctive shoulder weakness, their arms hanging like a monkey's. William Grant & Sons, the family behind Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, launched this blended malt in 2000 as a modern expression rooted in Speyside tradition, refusing to chase novelty at the expense of craft.

The blend marries three Speyside single malts—each drawn from nine separate casks—creating surprising complexity within an approachable frame. It is not a blended whisky because no grain spirit is present; pure malt, bottled at 40% ABV.

Vanilla and honey announce themselves immediately on the nose, trailed by citrus and a gentle pepper note. The palate remains soft and malty, with toffee and honey again providing balance. The finish is short and dry, with oak and a briny, maritime edge that breaks free from Speyside convention in an intriguing way.

This is whisky for those who value ease without sacrificing integrity—neat or in a cocktail.