New Whisky - Monkey Shoulder.  Add/Read Comments

Monkey Shoulder Whisky

Utilising whisky from three Speyside distillers this new blend from William Grant is available for £18.99. It is apparently to offer "new consumers an accessible, great tasting malt that retains authenticity while breaking the more traditional malt mould"

Why the name Monkey Shoulder? The traditional malting process requires soaked barley laid about a foot deep to germinate over 14 days. During this period the malting barley is turned over many times by distillery workers using wooden shovels. This controls the build-up of temperature in the the grain, which would stop germination. This repetitive shovel work (I have done this for a few hours at Bowmore on Islay and it ain't easy) can give rise to a muscule ache in the shoulder, hence "monkey shoulder" - a form of RSI I guess.