Monkey Shoulder is a rather simple but honest and decent quality blended malt from the Speyside of Scotland. Young Balvenie features quite prominently on the nose. Sweet fruits, candy apples and a touch of ice wine combine with creamy honey, fine spices and hints of coffee. Delicate maltiness and restrained oak influence complement the otherwise light and sweet character on the palate. The finish is swift, woody and sugary, merging into dark chocolate bitterness. With an excellent price-quality ratio, this dram is certainly better than most blends. RATING: 3.4/5.0 stars ≙ 82 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE [-]