What we’re drinking: Monkey Shoulder - check out the drink recipes!
Monkey Shoulder (~$33 in Maine) 43% ABV
- A blended malt scotch whisky
- Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie - hence the 3 monkeys
- Cask type is ex-bourbon
- Comprised of small batches of Speyside single malts, blended together in a marrying...tub….vat... for 3-6 months
- What is a Speyside single malt? It is a single malt Scotch whisky, distilled in Strathspey, the area around the River Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey, in northeastern Scotland.
- That region will always lend a butchscotch taste to the whisky
- What is a marrying cask you ask? Basically a cask used to finish off and mature whiskey after its initial blending process
- To Review: A condition that maltmen would develop because they essentially performed the same, repetitive motion every day of the week for hours on end - basically the person turning the malt could develop an elongated shoulder/arm from the repetitive motion they go through
- In a company response email dated 2012 it was confirmed that they do add caramel coloring to the whiskey for the purpose of ensuring consistency.
- Carmel coloring (E105a) is typically used to - as they said - ensure consistency across the bottling. Because they use previously used barrels the scotch doesn’t pull as much color from the wood.
Official Tasting Notes: Mellow vanilla - spicy hints
Official Nose Notes: Zesty orange, vanilla honey, spiced oak
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Michelle’s “Old Fashioned Manhattan” Recipe
- After much research Michelle's rule is 1/2 sugar cube doused with 3 dashes of bitters/ 2oz preferred bourbon or rye. Glass rimmed with an orange (not garnished), and 2 luxardo cherries for garnish.
- You’ll find it’s the perfect in between of a Manhattan and Old Fashioned, especially if you go with rye
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What we're reading: The Complete Whiskey Course
Our ultimate goal adventure: The Irish Whiskey Academy
Our Instagram handles:
The Show @thewhiskeyqueens | Paul @pdashton | Nick @wayfaringandwhiskey
Visit us at www.whiskeyqueens.com
