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Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Whisky

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@tjbReview by @tjb

30th Nov 2013

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I had heard friends say good things about this blend. It is a blended malt made from 3 different single malts from The Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Kininvie.

The nose is inviting with vanilla, honey, sawdust, sultanas, pears and malty goodness.

It's smooth out of the glass and tingles the very tip of the tongue with mild spice. You get a big honey hit upfront, oak, spices, orange zest. The are dark fruits and maybe a little citrus. The malt lingers.

The finish is spicy, nutty, very slight hint of bitter oak and on the short side of medium.

This is an interesting blend, better than most that I have tried.

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6 comments

@vrudy6
vrudy6 commented

I almost grabbed a bottle today, but I gave way to Bunahabhain 12.

9 years ago 0

@FMichael
FMichael commented

vrudy6 - pick up a bottle - you won't be disappointed.

I must say - if I were blindfolded, and handed a hearty dram of this I'd swear it was a Speyside single malt; IMHO it's better than a fair number of single malts that I've had in the past, but then again - this blend has the flavor profile that I enjoy the most.

What intrigues me is the name 'Monkey Shoulder'...Why not just call it Kininvie Blended Malt?

9 years ago 0

@vrudy6
vrudy6 commented

Thanks! I will definitely pick up a bottle.

9 years ago 0

@FMichael
FMichael commented

BTW - I found out via the web as to why it's named 'Monkey Shoulder'.

Apparently it's named after a 'repeated injury' that many workers would have at the end of a long shift at the distillery when they were turning malt on the floor.

The repeated motion of shoveling would cause some soreness/stiffness, and the workers would find themselves hunched over thus resembling the profile of a monkey.

Cheeky if you ask me.

9 years ago 0

@vrudy6
vrudy6 commented

Good to know! This bottle is pretty cheap here in Miami, FL. It goes for around $32.00.

9 years ago 0

@vrudy6
vrudy6 commented

BTW, Monkey Shoulder had a big spot on last episode of True Blood. Mr. Sam Merlotte was wasting it away by doing shots. We need to teach him a lesson on how to drink whisky. LOL!

9 years ago 0

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