Monkey Shoulder Smokey Monkey
Monkey Shoulder with a plume of smoke. Peated and unpeated single malts together in one bottle: smoky, creamy and sweet, and like the original, made for mixing.
What makes Smokey Monkey different?
Smokey Monkey is a blended malt Scotch whisky from William Grant & Sons, the smoky sibling of Monkey Shoulder. While the original uses only unpeated Speyside malts, this one combines peated and unpeated single malts in the blend. The peat provides the smoke; the unpeated malts keep it soft and sweet. Maturation in oak casks creates a whisky that is smoky and creamy-sweet at the same time.
So it is not a heavy peat bomb like an Islay malt, but an entry point into smoke. The philosophy is the same as with regular Monkey Shoulder: good enough to drink neat, made to mix. Both bottles are 40% ABV; Smokey Monkey is slightly drier and has that extra layer of smoke that a cocktail like the Penicillin captures in a single bottle.
In brief
Smoke, vanilla and a hint of citrus
Smoked oak
Smoked oak and peat, with soft vanilla and subtle citrus underneath. The smoke is clear, but never harsh.
Smoky and creamy
Creamy and sweet, with peat that slowly emerges and a lightly spicy note. Monkey Shoulder’s sweetness is still there, just a little drier.
Smoky and sweet
A warm, smoky finish with a sweet undertone. The smoke lingers without overpowering the palate.
Smokey Monkey's flavor profile neat. With ginger ale or in a Penicillin, the smoke softens and the sweetness intensifies.
How to taste and mix Smokey Monkey
Start neat with a few drops of water to get to know the smoke, then mix it. The smoke really comes into its own in a long drink or sour cocktail.
Smokey Monkey & ginger ale
50 ml Smokey Monkey with 150 ml ginger ale in a highball glass filled with ice, with a lime wedge. The ginger and smoke enhance each other; this is the serve recommended by the brand itself.
Highball glasses →Penicillin
50 ml Smokey Monkey, 25 ml lemon juice and 20 ml honey and ginger syrup, shaken with ice and strained into a tumbler over fresh ice, with a piece of ginger. The smoke float is already in it.
View the recipe →Taste it neat
25 ml in a tasting glass, smell it first, then add a few drops of water. The smoke softens and the vanilla and citrus come forward.
Tasting glasses →Cocktails where smoke adds something
In cocktails with honey, ginger or sweet liqueur, a gentle smoke brings everything into focus. Here, Smokey Monkey does more than the original.
Penicillin
Whisky, lemon, honey and ginger, normally with a smoky float. With Smokey Monkey, the smoke is already in the whisky.
Rusty Nail
Scotch and Drambuie over ice. The smoke balances the honeyed liqueur.
Godfather
Scotch and amaretto over ice. Smoke and almond turn out to be a surprisingly good match.
Hot Toddy
Whisky, hot water, honey and lemon. Even more comforting with a smoky whisky on a cold evening.The right glass for Smokey Monkey
A heavy tumbler for the Penicillin and Rusty Nail, a tall glass for ginger ale, a tasting glass for getting to know the smoke and a heat-resistant glass for the Hot Toddy.
More Monkey Shoulder flavours
Monkey Shoulder
Where it all began. On the brand page, you can read all about Monkey Shoulder: its origins, varieties and classic cocktails.
To Monkey Shoulder →Everything about whisky: the types, the best-known brands and the cocktails.
Questions about Smokey Monkey
Can't find your question here? Read more on the Monkey Shoulder page or check out our cocktail recipes.
Everything about Monkey Shoulder →