Monkey Shoulder · Speyside
Monkey Shoulder
Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt from Speyside, Scotland, bottled at 43% ABV with no age statement. Vanilla, orange and malt, built to survive ice and ginger ale. An honest cocktail malt.
Compiled by WhiskeyCask Editorial · Last verified 2026-07-30
Flavour profile
Broadly sweet, fruity, malty.
View as table
| Axis | Monkey Shoulder |
|---|---|
| Peaty | 1 |
| Sweet | 7 |
| Fruity | 6 |
| Spicy | 5 |
| Woody | 4 |
| Sherried | 3 |
| Cereal | 6 |
| Oily | 6 |
Where it sits in our record
Of the 32 bottles here we can cost per litre of pure alcohol, Monkey Shoulder is the 4th cheapest, at £100.
Within the 35 bottles on record it is one of 2 blended malt entries and one of 6 from Speyside.
What it's good for
- cocktails
- highball
- value
Worth knowing
William Grant & Sons does not name the three constituent malts anywhere on its own site — the widely repeated Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie attribution is unofficial. The 43% we list is the producer's US figure; no UK strength is published at all.
If you like this, try
Nearest matches by flavour vector across our own eight-axis scoring — not by brand or price.
Teeling Small Batch
46% ABV · No age statement · £32
Less peaty: 0 against 1 here
Chivas Regal 12 Year Old
Not published · 12 years · £33
Less spicy: 4 against 5 here
Bruichladdich The Classic Laddie 10 Aged Years
50% ABV · 10 years · £46
More peaty: 2 against 1 here
Compass Box Artist Blend
43% ABV · No age statement · £37
More peaty: 2 against 1 here