Monkey Shoulder has been one of the sharper plays in blended malt Scotch over the past decade — a brand built squarely for the cocktail generation, priced to move, and marketed with enough irreverence to sidestep the stuffiness that still clings to parts of the category. So when William Grant & Sons decided to extend the line with Smokey Monkey, the question wasn't whether it would sell, but whether the smoke would actually land with any conviction at 40% ABV.
For context, the original Monkey Shoulder is a vatting of three Speyside single malts — Balvenie, Glenfiddich, and Kininvie — all from the William Grant stable. Smokey Monkey takes that approachable base and introduces a peated component, pitching itself somewhere between the easy-drinking world of standard blended malts and the more assertive territory of Islay-influenced whisky. It's a calculated move. The peated Scotch segment has been growing steadily, and there's a clear gap in the market for an entry-level smoky dram that doesn't require a PhD in phenol parts per million to appreciate.
What to Expect
At £33.50 and 40% ABV, Smokey Monkey sits firmly in everyday territory. This isn't a whisky that's asking you to sit down and write poetry about it. It's a blended malt designed to be versatile — neat, on ice, or in a cocktail — and the smoke is dialled to complement rather than dominate. Think campfire embers rather than a peat bog in a hurricane. The Speyside backbone should keep things relatively sweet and malty, with the smoke providing texture and a longer, drier finish than the original expression.
The NAS designation is expected at this price point, and frankly irrelevant. What matters here is balance, and William Grant & Sons have enough blending expertise to get the ratio right. The real test is whether the peated element integrates cleanly or sits on top like an afterthought — and from my experience with it, the integration is genuinely well handled. It tastes like a considered blend, not a gimmick.
The Verdict
I'll be direct: Smokey Monkey does exactly what it sets out to do, and does it well. It won't convert die-hard Islay drinkers who want their whisky to taste like a smoked kipper wrapped in seaweed, but that was never the point. This is a gateway smoke — friendly, approachable, and priced sensibly enough that you won't wince about using it in a mixed drink. At £33.50, it competes directly with the likes of Johnnie Walker Black Label and sits comfortably in that bracket. The blended malt designation gives it a slight edge in perceived quality over blended Scotch competitors, and the smoke genuinely adds dimension rather than just a marketing hook.
A 7.5 out of 10 feels right. It's a solid, well-executed whisky that fills a genuine gap in the market. Not revelatory, but reliably good — and in this price range, reliability counts for a lot.
Best Served
This was built for cocktails, and a Smokey Monkey Penicillin is the obvious play — the smoke integrates beautifully with honey-ginger syrup and fresh lemon. If you prefer it simpler, try it over a single large ice cube with a twist of orange peel. The cold tames the smoke just enough to let the malty sweetness come through. Neat works too, but honestly, this whisky comes alive with a bit of dilution or in a mix.
