Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey

Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey, NAS, 40 %

This is a peated blended malt, and it is not merely monkey business.

“Smokey Monkey was created 5 years ago by Brian Kinsman, our master blender and a team of expert bartenders with the aim of creating the world’s best peated scotch whisky (smoky tasting) for the world's favourite smoky cocktails, for the world’s best bars.”

I have obviously tasted this blended malt neat, and this is what I have scored. However, as it is a product primarily made for mixing cocktails I had to try a few cocktail variants as well. My favourite so far is the Smokey Ginger Monkey (see recipe here).

The Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey is available in Norway at NOK 570 (14105801).

Nose: Honey, orange zest, wood smoke, hot ashes and toasted oak. With time also vanilla and more citrus notes.

Taste: Medium body. Dry-ish in character - soot and coal. Black and white pepper. Hints of citrus. Realy smokey on the palate.

Finish: Medium to short finish. More citrus now, as well as softly floral and green notes. Caramel and dark chocolate in the end.

Comment: A decent blended malt, a lot more smokey than expected. Great in cocktails!

Score 84/100

Sláinte!
-Thomas