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Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Whisky

Whisky made for mixing, or for masking?

6 468

@MegawattReview by @Megawatt

28th Feb 2021

0

Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Whisky
  • Nose
    20
  • Taste
    18
  • Finish
    15
  • Balance
    15
  • Overall
    68

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

Nose: mildly fruity, with some vanilla. Soft orange notes, delicate florals, and a bit of wood. Not unpleasant, but not very expressive either.

Taste: medium-bodied. Sweet at first, then quickly drying up and moving toward bitterness. Under-ripe banana. No real development here; "flat" is the word which springs to mind.

Finish: Echoes of orange can't save it from the bitter bite.

Balance: 100% malt whisky made for mixing, according to the website. Is that just a way of saying, this is not good enough to stand up on its own? Or is there something about this whisky which is supposed to make it a superior mixer compared to, say, Grant's Family Reserve or Teachers? I suspect the former is the case. I've tried it in a few mixed drinks and while it isn't terrible, I would hardly call it a first-rate mixer either. The lack of development and the bitter finish hamper it either way. I expected something a little more drinkable than this, in any case.

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4 comments

Astroke commented

The Bourbon youtubers guide to entry Scotch :)

3 years ago 1Who liked this?

@casualtorture
casualtorture commented

Completely agree with you on this one.

3 years ago 0

@OdysseusUnbound
OdysseusUnbound commented

I totally agree with your assessment. People always tell me “yeah but name me a better scotch for the price” and for my money at least 3 come to mind: Arran 10, Arran Robert Burns, and Deanston Virgin Oak. I would even rate McClelland’s Islay (young Bowmore) ahead of Monkey Shoulder, but i might be alone on that count.

3 years ago 0

@Megawatt
Megawatt commented

@OdysseusUnbound I have some of that horrible McLelland's on hand. Maybe I'll punish myself with a head-to-head ;)

3 years ago 1Who liked this?