Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt scotch from William Grant & Sons that was released to display the potential mixing prowess of this highly regarded spirit category. The name “Monkey Shoulder” is a reference to a shoulder injury that many maltsters experience throughout their career from shoveling through germinating malt. Each of the three monkeys on the label represent a different single malt distillery that composes this scotch (Glenfiddich, Balvenie, Kininvie).
THE FLAVOR PROFILE
Zesty orange meets mellow vanilla, honey, and fruity malt. Medium-light bodied palate that closely mimics the aromatics.
CATEGORY DESCRIPTION
Scotch is a grain/malt distillate that is aged in oak barrels and produced in Scotland. Blended scotch combines malt whisky, either a single malt or many, with grain whisky. The whiskies must be aged at least three years in oak barrels, and if a bottle carries an age statement (i.e. “10 years old”) it means that the youngest whisky in the blend is that old. The inclusive nature of blended scotch allows it an expansive global production, as opposed to the more strictly regulated single malt whisky.
