The Monkey Suit is the first in a series of five cocktails that we’ve created in collaboration with AUGUSTMAN to celebrate their 10th anniversary. Since we launched it just before the Lunar New Year, we thought it would be awesome to create a cocktail that not only celebrated the Year of the Monkey, but also the timeless style of classic cocktails in the hands of sharp dressers who know how to loosen up even in the most formal of festivities.
We began with Monkey Shoulder – a unique and versatile whisky made with a blend of three different single malts. In case you were wondering, the name Monkey Shoulder is a quirky tribute to the condition that those in the past who spent long shifts hand-turning barley during the malting process at a distillery may pick up, causing their arm to hang down a little like a monkey. Yes, our brows furrowed slightly the first time we heard this too, but that’s kind of what things associated with Monkey Shoulder tend to do – make you do a double-take.
To keep things classic but with a twist, we decided to create a local version of the Whisky Sour. So for starters, we infused black pepper with the Monkey Shoulder whisky to add a deep spicy note. Then we added some chrysanthemum-soaked vermouth for a touch of bitterness. Next, some apple cider vinegar for a unique sour punch. And finally, a drop of honey for a sweet finish. What you get with each bottle is a cocktail that’s a perfect balance of the four flavours of sour, sweet, bitter and spicy (酸甜苦辣). Yeah we think it’s a pretty interesting mix and one you got to taste for yourself.
Monkey Suit pairs very well with YuSheng (with or without the raw fish!) and it's a great drink to lift the heaviness from all those extra pieces of Bak Kwa that you couldn't resist… to create space for more pineapple tarts! Bring it along to your gatherings, your friends and family will thank you for it.
The first 100 bottles of the Monkey Suit each come together with a sleek, matte black AUGUSTMAN whisky flask so you can sneak in a good sip when you’re on the go. What’s more, proceeds from the sale of this cocktail combo will go towards AUGUSTMAN’s chosen charity, The Food Bank Singapore. So do your bit for a great cause and enjoy a great drink with family and friends this CNY!
Stay tuned for the next edition in this series. We can’t wait to show you what we have up our sleeves.
Cheers!