PUBLISHED March 27th, 2021 05:00 am | UPDATED April 2nd, 2021 01:28 pm
With typically animalic and strong smokey notes, peated malt whisky has long been the favourite of the Scotch snob – but one brand looking to change that is Monkey Shoulder. Delivering a phenol parts per million (PPM) reading of 20-22, Smokey Monkey is on the lighter end of the peat spectrum, while its sweet and smokey nuances smoothen out the distinct citrusy notes of the original blended malt whisky.
The result makes for a good product to feature in cocktails, and in celebration of the launch of Smokey Monkey, William Grant & Sons have partnered up with 15 local watering holes its first swing into Singapore. Here are the highlights:
Brass Monkey (That Funky Monkey), Tippling Club
A spin on the Old Fashioned, sugar is replaced by roasted hazelnut and caramelised banana liquor in this tipple, with Xocolatl bitters lending notes of cocoa and spice. Garnished with an orange peel, Brass Monkey (S$24) is citrusy and sweet, smokey and nutty at the same time. The cocktails also comes across a touch smoother than a regular Old Fashioned.
P.S. Keep an eye out for Poker Game, a velvety mix of Smokey Monkey, smoked vinegar, torched meadow hay, and tonka bean bitters. Set to be released in Tippling Club’s new modern art-inspired menu come end-April.
Tippling Club is located at 38 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088 461, p. +65 6475 2217. Open Mon-Tue & Thurs-Sat, from 12pm-10.30pm. Lunch is served from 12pm-3pm, and dinner from 6pm-10.30pm. Make your reservation here.
Smoke Screen, Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall
Bak kwa (Chinese pork jerky) and peated Scotch. The marriage no one expected, yet quite possibly a match made in tipple heaven. Sticking true to Ah Sam’s Asian pub concept, Smoke Screen (S$22) plays on the smokey, savoury flavours of a local favourite snack to enhance the smokey accords in this whiskey. Amontillado sherry wine lends dry, nutty nuances while five spiced-dark chocolate liqueur rounds off the savoury experience with spiced chocolate notes. A darker version of their original Silver Screen (S$22), this cocktail has plenty of depth and flavour.
Ah Sam Cold Drink Stall is located at 12 Haji Lane, Singapore 189205, p. +65 6391 9942. Make your reservation here.
Undead Monkey, The Bar at 15 Stamford
Whether or not this drink was inspired by that one monkey in the Pirates of the Caribbean, the folks at The Bar at 15 Stamford are putting a smokey twist on Tiki cocktails with the Undead Monkey. Reminisce of a Polynesian summer, Smokey Monkey is combined with overproof rum, homemade falernum, banana liqueur, citrus cherry brine, and topped with Angostura bitters. Spicy, bursting with fruity goodness, this cocktail has been rumoured to make Donn Beach himself swoon from six feet under. I guess that puts the “undead” in Undead Monkey.
The Bar at 15 Stamford is located at 15 Stamford Rd, Singapore 178906, p. +65 6715 6871. Open daily from 12.00pm-10.30pm. Dress code is smart casual.