Monkey shoulder is one of those rare blended scotches with a strong cult following. Comprised of three Speyside distilleries (Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Kininvie) and finished in ex-Bourbon casks, this whisky is masterfully blended and aged for an additional 6 months.
From the Bottle: Rooted in Malt Whiskey History, And inspired by the malt men who still turn the malting barley by hand, Monkey Shoulder is blended in small batches from three of speyside's finest single malt whiskies to achieve a smoother, richer taste.
The Basics
ABV: 40%
Cask: ex-Bourbon Casks
Nose: A hit of citrus meets a whiff of vanilla, sweet honey, spiced oak.
Taste: Vanilla with hints of spice as it splashes over your palette.
Finish: Medium trailing off sweetness
Chris' Opinion: I want to like this, but I can't. I like the nose, its very gentle and inviting. The vanilla just hugs your nose and you can pull out the oak and the spice. The palette is nice as well, it tastes like breakfast. The finish is just sweet and it seems to linger just long enough for you to notice. All in all though, its really just basic. It's a great introductory whisky if you wanted to invite a non-whisky drinker to try something, but its not blowing my skirt up.
Dan's Opinion: A monkey shoulder... We had heard so much about you, you had been so hyped up... Standing alone without the hype I think you would have been a fine blended Scotch. You fell victim to your own hype. I enjoy it as a simple Scotch with oak and spice on the finish. all in all Chris and I agree