Monkey Shoulder
Monkey Shoulder was one of the first bottles I purchased when I was just starting my whisk(e)y collection. At the time, I didn't know much about the brand besides the fact that I thought the three monkeys displayed on the bottle looked pretty dope. Named after a condition contracted by malt men from manually turning malted barley, Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt scotch consisting of three different Speyside scotch whiskies. Now, I know the snobs consider blended scotch to be Satan in liquid form, but Monkey Shoulder has gained a great following despite the slandering of its category and deserves its time in the spotlight.
There are plenty of whiskies that are acquired tastes, but I'm almost positive Monkey Shoulder could be enjoyed by everyone. It smells like a soft blend of vanilla, honey, oak and some light citrus. The whisky is rich and creamy, delivering tastes of fruit, vanilla and maltiness. The medium finish throws some spice into the equation to complete the experience, but, at 86 proof, this whisky is about as smooth as it gets.
Monkey Shoulder is a true testament to the fact that you don't have to hand over your wallet for good scotch. At $40, this is a great purchase, especially for somebody who's just beginning to venture into whisky. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying anything that should be interpreted as labeling Monkey Shoulder as a pillar in the world of scotch. But, with its sweet, straight forward taste and smooth sipping ability, I think it's a great staple to keep on your bar. This bottle was my first real run in with scotch and made enough of a lasting impression to spark my desire to explore the category even deeper. And even though I may have grabbed this bottle based on being easily distracted by monkeys, I regret nothing.
