Monkey Shoulder
Added on Monday, Jun 8, 2009 at 01:51 PM
  Bottler: OB (William Grant & Sons)
  Age: N/A Type: Scotch
  Vintage: N/A Subtype: Vatted Malt
  ABV: 40.00 % Region: Scotland
  Price: $32 Availability: Overseas Wide
Billed as a "Triple Malt," Monkey Shoulder is a vatting of Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie.  Batch 27 tasted (which seems to be the only batch out there).     £19.56
Member Ratings and Notes
Adam
 

Rating downgraded in shame and disapointment upon retasting a couple years later. I still really like it though, it's very drinkable and fine -- original notes still apply, enjoyment has just gone down some. Not sure if that's me or the vatting.  B-/B

Nose of cotton candy, bubblegum, and notes of pinot grigio.  Palate is full of melons (fresh watermelon traces notably) and bubblegum, riding on a nice wave of moderate sugary sweetness.  Vanilla and light spice fill in the background.  Finish continues the theme in a slow fade, with vanilla becoming more prominent.  This is massively drinkable and very enjoyable stuff.  Great price point too.  This should be distributed in the US.  I'd serve this at any party to guests looking to get into single malts (yeah, it's not a single, but you know what I mean).  This is promoted as a new choice for mixing, but I think it does really well neat.  Nothing in here will titillate the experienced scotch aficionado, but as a light, sweet, and not-without-flavor whisky it hits the spot extremely well.  Bravo.  B+

 
Chris
 
A lot of caramel, almonds, buttery, and a little smoke.  Round and sweet with some oak in the finish.  Grows on you after a while, but not something I'm gonna seek out.  Maybe it's profile is just too nice and blend-like for me.  C+/B- 
Dave
 
Plain and simple light flowers of grass and pears.  Fruity after a few minutes but just not something I would go to again. 
Mike
 

N: Not much there.

 

P: Starts light, gets a little hot, but no flavors.

 

F: ? 

 
JC
 
Heavy maple syrup nose.
Taste...not so much.
Thin and oily with a tough finish.
Slow rollout, late burn. 
Andy
 

n:  Solventy caramel.  Not much to like.

 

p:  Toasted toffee or Nutella.  Lemony citrus.  Still some solvent.  Easy to sip but the solventy finish is annoying.

 
Fuji
 

N: peach, white peper corn, vanilla extract, and white wine

P: A bit weird.   Sweet ripe fruit.

F: Evaporative

 
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