| Monkey Shoulder | |
| Type: | Scotch whisky |
| Manufacturer: | William Grant & Sons |
| Origin: | Scotland |
| Introduced: | 2003 |
| Website: | Monkey Shoulder |
| Abv: | 40% |
Monkey Shoulder is a brand of Scotch whisky produced by William Grant & Sons in Scotland. Monkey Shoulder is a blended malt whisky, one of a small number of whiskies in this style.[1] As of 2023, Monkey Shoulder is the world's third best-selling brand of Scotch whisky, trailing Johnnie Walker and The Macallan.[2]
Monkey Shoulder was introduced in 2003 as a brand of blended malt whisky (formerly called "vatted malt whisky") primarily for mixing, occupying a middle ground between blended Scotch (which can contain grain whisky) and single malt whisky (which cannot).[3] Originally a blend from the Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Kininvie distilleries, its current composition is not publicly known, although its constituent malt whiskies originate from the Speyside region.[4]
The name refers to a repetitive strain injury that distillery workers once commonly were afflicted with after long shifts of turning malt by hand.[5]