Blended Malt Whisky
Before machines took over the work, distillery workers had to turn germinating barley by hand on the malting floor - using a wooden shovel they repeatedly threw over the same shoulder. Some developed a repetitive strain injury that left one arm permanently hanging lower, like a monkey's: "Monkey Shoulder" was born, a term William Grant & Sons chose in 2005 as the name for their new blended malt whisky - a marriage of three in-house Speyside malts (Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie). Unlike an ordinary blended whisky, a blended malt whisky like this contains exclusively single malts and no grain whisky - this category was formerly also called pure malt or vatted malt.
Content: 0.7 Liter (€55.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€135.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€45.70 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€42.84 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€57.13 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.5 Liter (€351.98 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€44.27 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Content: 0.7 Liter (€39.99 / 1 Liter)
Available, delivery time: 3-6 business business days
Where does the unusual name "Monkey Shoulder" come from?
It refers to a historical occupational condition among maltmen, who developed a kind of "monkey shoulder" from repeatedly turning barley over the same shoulder - William Grant & Sons turned it into a brand name in 2005.
Why is blended malt often confused with classic blended whisky?
Both contain the word "blend", but only blended malt consists exclusively of blended single malts with no grain whisky content - look for the word "malt" in the name to identify the pure malt flavour richness.
Facts and figures
Formerly called pure malt or vatted malt. No grain whisky content, exclusively single malts. Monkey Shoulder: launched 2005 by William Grant & Sons. One recommended representative is Monkey Shoulder.