Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey launches in on-trade

Blended malt Scotch Monkey Shoulder intends to give a “needed” shake-up to the peated whisky category with a new variant: Smokey Monkey.

Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey is made using Highland peat (Photo credit: @modular.media)

Bottled at 40% abv, Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey is made using Highland peat, and is designed for mixing like the brand’s original variant.

Smokey Monkey is said to combine dry peaty notes with creamy sweetness and spice, and is recommended in signature Monkey Shoulder serves including the Smokey Monkey Old Fashioned, the Smokey Ginger Monkey and the Smokey Monkey Splash.

Brian Kinsman, master blender at William Grant & Sons, Monkey Shoulder owner, said: “Smokey Monkey has the mellow vanilla, spicy and citrus hints of our original liquid, overlaid by a dry smokiness that comes through on the nose and the palate.”

Smokey Monkey is set to launch this month in the on-trade in the UK and France. The brand has also simultaneously launched a new bar tool, the smoke injector, which releases smoke over the final cocktail serve.

Joe Petch, Monkey Shoulder’s global brand ambassador, said: “Smokey Monkey has been created largely because leading bartenders from across the world asked us to.

“We felt it was an opportunity to give something back to those who have supported Monkey Shoulder from the beginning, which is why it’s just for them to start with.

“We’ve also enjoyed mixing up the world of peated malt – and quite frankly, it needed that.”