The blended malt scotch has created Monkey Musk, a limited-edition cologne that features scent notes like zesty orange, vanilla, honey and spiced oak… All the things you typically enjoy in your favorite Monkey Shoulder cocktail.

Ensuring that the scent was just right was the most important piece of the puzzle, the brand enlisted its Malt Master Brian Kinsman to ensure it featured every note found in its namesake whisky – and then some.

“The process of creating whisky is in many ways similar to a perfumer crafting a fragrance,” said Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky Malt Master Brian Kinsman. “We both prioritize the quality of elements going into the blend and spend hours perfecting the combination of different notes. It’s a science, and the beautiful blend of Monkey Shoulder deserved to be replicated as a fragrance since it’s made up of tasting notes you’d typically find in leading fragrances.”

To announce the launch of Monkey Musk, the brand has once again teamed up with actor, comedian & host Joel McHale to bring his signature humor to a whisky that knows a thing or two about poking fun at pretentiousness, and the fragrance industry is exactly that. And don’t worry you won’t see him in a traditional fragrance ad with a jungle backdrop or a woman sitting on his shoulder.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Monkey Shoulder again to launch the incredible Monkey Musk Fragrance…although I’m a little shocked it’s taken me this long to secure a fragrance deal. That said, I am grateful and humble and IN YOUR FACE CHRIS EVANS.” said Joel McHale. “The Monkey Shoulder blended Scotch inspired fragrance Monkey Musk is just as good as the hard stuff.”

Fans can purchase their own bottle of Monkey Musk for xx at shop.monkeyshoulder.com.

The post Monkey Shoulder Wants You To Smell Good appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 oz Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch
• 3/4 oz lime juice
• 2 oz pineapple juice and Sauvignon Blanc reduction and thyme*

Instructions:

Add scotch and lime juice in a shaker with ice and shake. Pour into a coupe and top with reduction. The drink is garnished with smoke bubbles on top, which is done table-side (or you can do with a smoking gun at home).

*Boil the pineapple juice, Sauvignon Blanc, and thyme for 15 minutes and then let to rest over ice.

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Beginning Sunday (May 1), the brand will offer four pre-batched, ready-to-serve cocktails, featuring some well-known spirits brands. Batch & Bottle marks William Grant & Sons’ first major foray into the Ready-To-Drink (RTD) cocktail space.

The offerings include the Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned, the brainchild of Monkey Shoulder Global Ambassador Joe Petch; the Reyka Rhubarb Cosmopolitan, a reimagined twist on the classic cosmopolitan; the Glenfiddich Scotch Manhattan, which includes the secret ‘Granny Gordon’s bitters’ recipe; and the Hendrick’s Gin Martini, created by Hendrick’s Master Distiller Lesley Gracie in collaboration with five of the world’s best bars—Brujas, Nutmeg & Clove, Yaldy, Maybe Sammy, and Nauticus.

“As consumer drinking occasions continue to rapidly evolve, and as Ready-To-Drink cocktails continue to explode in popularity across the US, we want to arm our fans with elevated and exciting cocktail options from the iconic brands they already know and love,” said Paul Basford, William Grant & Sons US President and Managing Director. “As Master Distillers, industry leaders and cocktail aficionados, we know our spirits best, so we wanted to offer our expertise, batched for people to be able to finally enjoy bar quality cocktails at home, without the hassle. Batch & Bottle is uniquely positioned to meet consumers’ desires for premium quality drinks that they can share with their friends, with total ease of enjoyment.”

“The ready-to-drink category today offers consumers more choices than ever before, but none are doing what Batch & Bottle is: delivering full-proof, bar-quality drinks that look striking on any bar cart or dinner table and elevate a special evening with the perfect cocktail for any palate,” added Jared Currier, Brand Manager, Innovation at William Grant & Sons. “And the exceptional ease of service—just chill in advance, pour into your favorite glass and add a garnish—means that offering an incredible cocktail is finally as easy as opening a bottle of wine.”

Previously made available in the UK and Australia, Batch & Bottle will be available nationwide for $16.99 per bottle.

The post Batch & Bottle Makes Anyone A Bartender appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Monkey Shoulder
• 3.5 oz apple cider
• 2 dash Angostura bitters
• 2 dash Orange bitters

Instructions:

Bring apple cider to a simmer in saucepan, add monkey & bitters, stir, transfer to hot toddy glass. Garnish with Orange wheel dotted with cloves.

Let us know if you have a cocktail recipe you love or if there’s a recipe that you want us to break down on social media with the hashtag, #TWLScocktail. Please drink responsibly.

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Monkey Shoulder has teamed up with actor/comedian Joel McHale to lighten up first dates, giving drinkers the chance to make a lasting impression with their potential significant other by dropping the pretense.

McHale took to the streets of New York, to check out date spots to convince couples to take a walk on the wild side with Monkey Shoulder (see below).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjNPSLUfuzM

“There’s nothing worse on a first date than someone trying too hard – thinking they’ll impress someone they met on a dating app by dragging them to a four-hour German opera,” said McHale. “A first date should be about forging a real, honest connection – kind of like the connection I have with my new friends at Monkey Shoulder. They give me free whisky and in return, I give them pull quotes for press releases. But together, we also want to bring this idea of honesty and spontaneity to first dates.”

“In the very traditional and sometimes stuffy world of Scotch whisky, Monkey Shoulder encourages you to loosen things up a bit – break precedent; throw ice in it, mix it, make a piña colada – basically stop being so precious and just enjoy good whisky in the way that makes you happy,” added Michael Giardina, Brand Director, Monkey Shoulder. “Now we’ve partnered with Joel McHale to bring that same outlook to dating. In a world where people often embellish to impress, we are encouraging people to drop the pretense, be their original selves, relax and have fun. Honestly, you don’t even need to thank us if you get a second date…just bring us to the wedding.”

For singles in need of a first date overhaul, Monkey Shoulder and McHale are serving up a first date that takes pretense out at the knees: a roast… and a roast. For the chance to have Joel and Monkey Shoulder crash your first date via a home-cooked meal with a twist, head to monkeyshoulder.com/joelmchale and tell us about the most stuck up date you’ve ever been subjected to.

The post Monkey Shoulder And Joel McHale Prep You For Cuffing Season appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 parts Monkey Shoulder
• 2 parts Coconut Water
• .5 parts Fresh Orange Juice
• .75 parts Salted-Cinnamon Syrup
• 1 splash of Club Soda
• orange wedge
• mint sprig

Instructions:

Build in highball glass or punch bowl over ice, lightly stir and garnish each cocktail with an orange wedge and mint sprig. 

Let us know if you have a cocktail recipe you love or if there’s a recipe that you want us to break down on social media with the hashtag, #TWLcocktail. Please drink responsibly.

The post Cocktail of the Week: Funky Monkey Punch appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Ingredients:

• 1 part Monkey Shoulder
• 1.5 parts fresh pineapple juice
• 1 part coconut purée
• .5 part coconut juice
• 1 part fresh lime juice
• 2 dashes of Angostura Bitters
• 2 parts ice

Instructions:

Add all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and pour into a hurricane glass. Garnish with a pineapple slice and fronds.

Let us know if you have a cocktail recipe you love or if there’s a recipe that you want us to break down on social media with the hashtag, #TWLcocktail. Please drink responsibly.

The post Cocktail of the Week: Monkey Colada appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

First up is a seasonal spin on a classic cocktail. Created by Naren Young, Head Bartender at the iconic Dante in New York City, this Julep has a little snow on its roof.

The Julep

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ oz. Monkey Shoulder whisky (infused with freeze dried cranberries)
• ½ oz. Becherovka
• ½ oz. cranberry syrup

Instructions:

Muddle torn mint leaves in crushed ice in a Julep or Bechrovka Cup. Build over crushed ice & stir well. Cap with more crushed ice and garnish with a large mint sprig, three cranberries, confectioner’s sugar and a small straw.

Looking for a seasonal spin on a different classic? London’s Green Room at The Curtain Hotel & Members Club heats up my favorite cocktail — The Old Fashioned.

Fireplace Old Fashioned

• 1 ½ oz Woodford Reserve
• 1 ½ tsp Marshmallow Syrup (prepared in-house at Green Room, but can be store bought)
• 3 dashes Angostura Aromatic Bitters

Instructions:

Stir the ingredients over cubed ice, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh cubed ice and garnish with a toasted marshmallow.

Next up is this a sipper appropriately named for the season. Created by the team at New York’s The Fat Radish, this grapefruit-forward cocktail will definitely keep you warm.

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