Monkey Shoulder
The Speyside whisky with three monkeys on the bottle, made for mixing. Everything about the taste, the difference from Smokey Monkey, the cocktails and the right glass to serve it in.
Three single malts, made for mixing
Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt Scotch whisky from William Grant & Sons, the family behind Glenfiddich and The Balvenie. It is a blend of Speyside single malts only (no grain whisky), matured in ex-bourbon casks and blended in small batches. The brand was launched in 2005 with one goal: a whisky good enough to drink neat, but made for cocktails.
The name refers to an old occupational ailment among maltmen: from endlessly turning barley by hand, their shoulders would sag, the 'monkey shoulder'. The three copper monkeys on the bottle represent the three malts in the original recipe. Monkey Shoulder is smooth, full-bodied and sweet, and became the favourite whisky of bartenders worldwide.
In brief
What types of Monkey Shoulder are there?
Monkey Shoulder
The original: smooth, rounded and sweet, with vanilla, honey and a hint of orange. No smoke.
Smokey Monkey
The same style, but with peated malts added. A gentle layer of smoke over the honey and vanilla.
Gift box with glass
Regular Monkey Shoulder in a gift box with a matching glass. Ready to give.
For cocktails, choose regular Monkey Shoulder; if you like smoke, choose Smokey Monkey.
Smooth, sweet, and full of vanilla
Vanilla & orange
Sweet vanilla, honey, ripe apple, and orange peel, with a hint of cinnamon.
Round and creamy
Smooth and full-bodied, with toffee, malt, and gentle spices. No harsh edges and no smoke.
Warm and sweet
A medium-length, warm finish of vanilla and spices that calls for another sip.
Monkey Shoulder flavor profile. Smokey Monkey scores 3/5 for smokiness and is slightly drier.
Three ways to drink Monkey Shoulder
Monkey Shoulder is made for mixing. It works just fine neat, but it comes into its own in a Whiskey Sour, a highball, or an Old Fashioned.
Whiskey Sour
50 ml Monkey Shoulder, 25 ml lemon juice, 15 ml sugar syrup, and egg white, shaken first without ice, then with ice. Strain into a tumbler with ice. The cocktail this whisky was made for.
Go to the recipe →Monkey & ginger ale
50 ml Monkey Shoulder with 150 ml ginger ale in a highball glass full of ice, with a lime wedge. Refreshing, lightly spicy, and ready in a minute. Even better with Smokey Monkey.
Glass: highball glass →Old Fashioned
60 ml Monkey Shoulder, a sugar cube, two dashes of Angostura, and a large ice cube, stirred in a tumbler with an orange zest.
Go to the recipe →The best cocktails with Monkey Shoulder
Whiskey Sour
Whisky, lemon, sugar, and egg white. Smooth, sour, and creamy; extra rounded with Monkey Shoulder.
Old Fashioned
Whisky, sugar, and bitters over a large ice cube. Simple and timeless.
Penicillin
Whisky, lemon, honey-ginger, and a smoky float. Smokey Monkey in one bottle.
Whisky Highball
Whisky and soda over lots of ice. Light, refreshing, and perfect with a smooth malt like Monkey Shoulder.The right glass for Monkey Shoulder
A heavy tumbler for a Whiskey Sour and an Old Fashioned, a highball glass for a highball, and a tasting glass for drinking neat. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything else you wanted to know about Monkey Shoulder
Can't find your question? Browse our cocktail recipes or get in touch.
To the cocktail recipes →What percentage of alcohol does Monkey Shoulder contain?
What is a blended malt whisky?
Where does the name Monkey Shoulder come from?
Which distilleries are in Monkey Shoulder?
What's the difference between Monkey Shoulder and Smokey Monkey?
Can you drink Monkey Shoulder neat?
Buy Monkey Shoulder
Want to get the bottle delivered right away? Order Monkey Shoulder online at Gall & Gall.
Prices as of November 3, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can see the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; it doesn't cost you anything extra. No 18, no alcohol.
