Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt

I have no idea how I am opening the bottle this late in the liquor tasting journey, given its staple position in the community. I purchased on offer for 23 EUR / L. Chill-filtered - Yes Added Colour - Yes ABV - 40% Appearance - Golden colour with orange hue, quite oily and viscous in glass. Aroma - Sweetness, malt, caramel, honey, vanilla, oak, oak spice, cinnamon, with a herbal, green hint, some orchard fruit. Full, well rounded. Taste - Creamy front-end, caramel, honey, vanilla, turns sharp-spiced on the mid-palate, with more spice, cinnamon, oak, apple. Finish - Medium, with less sweetness and more oak presence here, dry, woody. After-taste features prominent cinnamon and mild cocoa, which turn to a more herbal-celery root aroma. I do understand why it is so loved by everyone, although I admit I was suspicious at first. Interesting flavour evolution, quintessential ex-bourbon maturation. For anyone looking for the best whisk(e)y in a similar price-range, I am happy to recommend this (ex-bourbon expression), alongside another distillery's offering (darker, PX-sherry influence) and a different 12-year-old blend.

The orange marmalade aroma is undeniable from the start. Beneath that, there's a solid presence of barley and honey. With some air, sweet citrus zest emerges. It's even reminiscent of a honey and lemon concoction for immunity, but far superior since it's whisky and not for consumption... Haha. The taste is key, and I'd say it's a delightful golden barley and sweet cinnamon cake. It follows with a touch of honey and concludes dryly with sugary lemon. For me, a good whisky must reveal different characteristics, and the distinct layers of flavor here are excellent; I especially appreciate the amount of toasted barley. An absolutely wonderful blended malt with a fantastic value. While it would excel in various cocktails, it's also quite pleasant to sip neat.

NEAT - // BATCH 27 // This whisky is ephemeral. All the scents and tastes appear and vanish quickly. Nevertheless... NOSE - Orange/Citrus, Ripe Banana, Honey, and Vanilla PALATE - Apart from the ripe banana note, everything from the nose is present on the palate, but again, it's very fleeting. This is also the first whisky I've encountered that I can describe as "airy" on the palate. It's just quite watery despite the pleasant aromas. FINISH - Practically nonexistent. SHOULD YOU BUY IT? - I believe this whisky serves well to introduce people to the flavor profiles of scotch, whether it's blended or single malt. For that purpose, this whisky is great. For connoisseurs and enthusiasts, you're unlikely to replace this bottle, and neither will I. WILL YOU BUY IT AGAIN? - No.

Night Frenzy - unknown date - unknown location Nice golden color Smells like cheap alcohol, half honey / half industrial The first sip is like the nose. No depth, no primary flavors, no body. A certain sweetness. A "wish version" Japanese-style whisky, basically Chinese... Very little interest Where are the fiery bursts of Scotch whiskies??? The violin solos at the bottom of Borovička glasses??? The blazing Karamazov hearts that illuminate the nights and the cries of Lean Dogs in homage to the Moon??? This is not the case here! The spirit stagnates in mediocrity, the common, the vulgar. Bring us whiskies worthy of the name and let us feast until the next day!!!

Monkey shoulder is a mix of single malt scotch whiskies, without any grain whisky. It works exceptionally well in cocktails, and while the price is a bit higher than other blends, it also stands well on its own. I detect apples and spice in the aroma. The taste starts with a touch of peat, but is mostly sweet and watery, with notes of chocolate. The finish is quite short, with little burn and hints of grass and malt. It won't astound you when drunk neat like some blends, but it serves well as an everyday dram and holds up well in cocktails. The cost is a little higher than others, so I often choose Famous Grouse for cocktails, but both are very good options.

The current iteration of Monkey Shoulder Malt Blended Scotch is primarily composed of young Kininvie, with Glenfiddich and Balvenie contributing to the palate and finish, respectively. The aroma suggests rich notes of citrus, allspice, vanilla, and caramel. The initial taste is a warm blend of allspice, cinnamon, caramel, and citrus. The finish combines caramel, honey, oak, and allspice. In my judgment, this current version of Monkey Shoulder Malt Blended Scotch is excessively mild and overpriced for its quality, and I would not purchase it again.