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Writer's pictureMary Ann

The Gothic Age with Herbs & Rye Takes on Nashville

Updated: Jul 11, 2018

MONKEY SHOULDER BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY HITS THE ROAD WITH THE 2018 DISTORTION TOUR TO CELEBRATE FAN-FAVORITE BARS WITH A TWIST


The nationwide tour will feature local pop-ups of rock star bars putting a spin on their classic cocktail hits


Credit Rachel Deeb Photography

Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch Whisky announces the 2018 Distortion Tour, a nationwide roadshow bringing four powerhouse cocktail bars to eight cities – with an added Monkey Shoulder twist. Subverting the norm, Monkey Shoulder will offer unique, one-off cocktail experiences where the biggest names in the industry will add a new spin to their respective aesthetic for one night only. Modern goes historic, refined goes tiki, light goes dark, and cocktails change color entirely within this exciting mashup. Showcasing Monkey Shoulder’s playful side by challenging expectations, the tour will kick off in Denver, Colorado, on May 20th, before traveling across the country throughout the year.


“Monkey Shoulder is made for mixing, so it only makes sense that we put a spin on classic cocktail moments with the Distortion Tour,” said Monkey Shoulder Ambassador Vance Henderson. “These bars are masters of their craft, and we want to showcase their talent by pushing the limits of what’s possible. It’s a monumental moment in exceptional bartending history!”

Credit Rachel Deeb Photography

The full tour schedule and headlining acts include:


- AttaTheBlue with Attaboy

With Attaboy, NYC’s everyman’s gem, Monkey Shoulder is remixing the classic Penicillin cocktail by giving it a kick of BLUE. You read it right - this cocktail bar will be shaking it up to give the fan- favorite a fresh new look, both in the glass and outside it. Monkey Shoulder enters its blue period for this monochromatic must.

Dates: o May 20 – Denver, CO o May 22 – Detroit, MI


- The Dark Side of The Savoy

American Bar at The Savoy is known for its pearly white look, the London locale’s pristine decadence is a sure-fire hit. But the group is changing its tune for ONE NIGHT ONLY with a dramatic new cover. The Dark Side of the Savoy will feature all of your favorite cocktails from the British institution, just with a brooding and macabre twist that shows even the best can cross over to the dark side. Dates: o June 12 – Brooklyn, NY


- The Gothic Age of American Drinking with Herbs & Rye

Everyone loves a good throwback – and Herbs & Rye, Las Vegas’ Sin City secret, is throwing it WAY back to the Gothic Age of American drinking. Smoke, cloaks, and daggers galore, this remix will pair the best of modern imbibing with subtle touches of theatrical fun and will feature the exclusive U.S. launch of the Monkey Shoulder Smoke Injector, the newest bartender tool that can top any cocktail with a cloud of captivating smoke.

Dates: o June 25 – Nashville, TN o June 27 – San Diego, CA


- Let’s Have a Tiki with Employees Only

The West Village, NYC favorite Employees Only is going totally Tiki! Exchanging aprons for grass skirts and sun-kissed cocktails to match, this pop-up will take the bar’s classical artistic vibes and strike it through with a Polynesian flair unlike any other. This exotic remix matches sun and fun in a tantalizingly tropical mashup.

Dates: o September 11 – Austin, TX o October 22 – Chicago, IL

Credit Rachel Deeb Photography

For more on Monkey Shoulder’s 2018 Distortion Tour visit monkeyshoulder.com.

Don’t miss out on the biggest tour of the year. Stay up to date on all things Monkey Shoulder on Facebook @MonkeyShoulderUS, on Twitter @MonkeyShoulder3, or on Instagram @MonkeyShoulderUS


Don’t be a drunken monkey, drink responsibly. Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky, 43% alc/vol ©2018 Imported by William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY.

Credit Rachel Deeb Photography

About Monkey Shoulder

With an eye-catching bottle, intriguing name and a mischievous attitude, Monkey Shoulder has created a stir as the Scotch that leaps out from the whisky crowd. Monkey Shoulder is a marriage of selected 100 percent malt whisky from Speyside, Scotland. It is crafted in small batches to achieve a smoother, richer taste. The 86 proof (43% ABV) whisky is made from 100 percent malted barley – not a drop of grain is used – and aged exclusively in first-fill Bourbon barrels for exceptional smoothness. On its own, Monkey Shoulder is smooth and rich, while its versatility allows for a wide range of great tasting cocktails. Visit www.MonkeyShoulder.com.


About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons Holdings Ltd is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch, Grant’s®, as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W.® Irish Whiskey, Monkey Shoulder® Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Drambuie® Scotch Liqueur. William Grant & Sons has been honored as “Distiller of the Year” by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge 11 times over the past 16 years.


Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Drambuie, Milagro Tequila, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Flor de Caña Rum, Art In The Age, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.


About The Participating Bars

- Attaboy: New York, NY

Attaboy is the everyman’s cocktail bar in NYC’s Lower East Side. From Sam Ross and Michael McIlroy, this understated beauty creates some of the most solid cocktails in all of New York— and, perhaps, the world.


- American Bar at The Savoy: London, UK

American Bar at The Savoy is the longest surviving cocktail bar in London and one of the most renowned in the world. Serving classics with a twist, new and vintage creations and legendary bartender’s signature drinks, the American Bar remains at the forefront of the industry.


- Herbs & Rye: Las Vegas, NV

The word is out about Herbs & Rye - easily one of the finest cocktail bars in all of Sin City. Inside you are surrounded by vintage Vegas swankiness with its leather booths, wood floors and vibrant red walls, and a cocktail menu that plays homage to the great imbibing eras over the years.


- Employees Only: New York, NY

Employees Only is New York City’s inimitable speakeasy located in the heart of the West Village. Opened in 2004 by five industry friends, the restaurant and bar is driven by an innate inclination for hospitality and a core tenet that one can enjoy flawlessly executed cocktails and delicious, elevated food, served in a beautiful space without pretence.


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