Monkey Shoulder is a premium blended malt scotch whisky produced by William Grant and Sons. Developed in 2005 as an antidote to the stodgy image under which the scotch category labored, Monkey Shoulder entices a growing legion of younger fans through its cocktail programming led by dynamic, mixology-oriented brand ambassadors. The blend contains single malts from just three distilleries: Glenfiddich, Balvenie, and Kininvie, all owned by William Grant and Sons. According to legend, Monkey Shoulder was a nickname given to a form of bursitis of the shoulder associated with a repetitive strain injury brought about by continually turning barley on a malting floor. See floor malting. It was most likely a term used specifically in Speyside, the region in which some of the Monkey Shoulder malts are distilled.
See also Glenfiddich and whisky, scotch.
Smith, Gavin D. The A-Z of Whisky. Glasgow: Neeil Wilson, 2009.
By: Heather Greene