Monkey Shoulder - Blended Malt Scotch Whisky -- 750 mL

Evolving Perception of Scotch Whisky

What a difference a year can make in my perception of Scotch whisky. I was barreling toward single malts only to be disappointed by a very bad bottle of Macallan 12-year-old. Now, I find myself hurtling back to blends.

Exploring Blended Whiskies

While I tried various blends, none seemed suitable beyond Johnnie Walker Red or Black. I was tempted to move toward Green Label, but online reviews mentioned that the older, discontinued variation of Green Label was limited to just four single malts that defined this Johnnie Walker version. In other words, I missed the party on that one.

To ensure some variety in my collection, I opted for Monkey Shoulder, a blend of three whiskies:

Glenfiddich
Balvenie
Kinivie

I am familiar with Glenfiddich and Balvenie, but I was mostly unimpressed by Glenfiddich until I tried mixing it with other whiskies. This led me to become interested in Monkey Shoulder. I don't know much about Kinivie, other than that all three whiskies are part of the same company and appear to be marketed as a middle tier between Glenfiddich and Balvenie.

Tasting Notes

Monkey Shoulder tastes on the sweeter side with a bit of alcohol burn. It actually reminds me of how Macallan used to taste for me, minus the deeper caramel taste and sweeter smell. Macallan used to taste like candy syrup, while Monkey Shoulder gets me closer to that profile than a more recent bottle of Macallan.

So far, I've enjoyed it neat and on the rocks, and it's quite good. Although it's not as interesting to me as Johnnie Walker Black, even though they are in the same price bracket, I would get bored if I consumed only Johnnie Walker Black all the time. Monkey Shoulder is a welcome palate changer.

Future Whisky Exploration

Part of the reason I lean more toward Johnnie Walker Black is my growing appreciation for smokier, peatier whiskies like Laphroaig. I am excited to try Johnnie Walker Double Black someday. I'll keep looking for more blends, as this experience has proven there is much value. Spending around $30 on a bottle is about where I want to be, and I expect it to last me a month—okay, maybe less with this one.

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