Marking the first year of a two‑year global partnership, Monkey Shoulder, the Official Scotch Whisky Partner of The World’s 50 Best Bars, continued celebrating the best bars across the world, to honour Europe’s 50 Best Bars. Bringing together talent from across Europe from Greece and Italy to Sweden and Scotland, to name a few, Monkey Shoulder was at the heart of the action, serving curated cocktails created by acclaimed bartenders from across the region.

Connaught Bar was named Best Bar in the UK, an award sponsored by Monkey Shoulder, located in London. Among its Monkey Shoulder serves was RUBRA, – made with Monkey Shoulder, geranium-infused hazelnut oil, homemade popped rice syrup, Sauternes, Amaro Santoni and cardamom bitters to deliver a cocktail of spice, subtly floral notes and a pleasant bittersweet finish.

A defining force in modern cocktail culture, Connaught Bar has been setting the standard for destination drinking. Designed by the late David Collins, the bar brings together silver leaf walls, mirrored surfaces and Cubist-inspired detailing with the warmth and elegance of a grand London hotel bar. Led by Ago Perrone alongside Giorgio Bargiani, Connaught Bar has further cemented its global reputation by ranking No. 10 overall in Europe’s 50 Best Bars, embodying the world-class hospitality, creativity and craft that Monkey Shoulder champions across the global bar community.

To continue the celebrations beyond the ceremony, Monkey Shoulder hosted an after-party at Nido Cocktail Bar, featuring a dedicated cocktail menu that included My Daily Monkey, made with coffee-infused Monkey Shoulder Whisky and charred orange husk Pedro Ximénez and Mon Sherry, blending Monkey Shoulder Scotch Whisky with Oloroso, Marsala, red apple and chestnut soda, alongside a selection of vinyl DJ sets.

Throughout Europe’s 50 Best Bars celebrations in Amsterdam, Monkey Shoulder was at the heart of the action, serving a curated cocktail line-up created by acclaimed bartenders Joop van Diest of Shakerato, Nick Vrielink of Fitz’s Bar and Giulia Cuccurullo of The Artisian London. Serves included Joop’s Matcha Yuzu, blending Monkey Shoulder, matcha, yuzu, vanilla and soda, Nick’s BSB Old Fashioned, made with air-distilled Irish Dry Stout hydrolate, barley malt and toasted rye bread, and Giulia’s Fig Leaves & Labdanum, combining Monkey Shoulder with labdanum, aloe and Three Cents Fig Leaves Soda.

Monkey Shoulder was featured at the Bartenders’ Feast with the Ginger Snap from Door 74 – blending Monkey Shoulder, lemon & ginger sherbet and mint and the Bitter Brunch at LuminAir’s Closing Party, made with Monkey Shoulder, Rémy Martin VSOP, Mancino Vermouth Kopi and orange & thyme cordial. The brand also extended the celebrations across Amsterdam with two bar takeovers during the 50 Best Bars Europe programme. Rome-based bartenders Patrick Pistolesi and Federico Daniele of Drink Kong and Siria Nicoletti and Luca Broccoli of Jerry Thomas Speakeasy takeover Tailor Bar in Hotel Krasnapolsky for a guest shift. Followed by a London-based bartenders Enrico Perri & Andrea Costa of 45 Park Lane takeover of Bar TwentySeven for an Old Fashioned theme affair.

Joe Petch, Global Brand Ambassador, Monkey Shoulder, said: “The World’s 50 Best Bars partnership gives Monkey Shoulder a powerful platform to celebrate bar excellence and support the bartenders driving culture forward across the globe – the people and places that truly inspire our brand.”

As the Official Scotch Whisky Partner of The World’s 50 Best Bars, Monkey Shoulder remains committed to championing exceptional bartending talent across the globe.

Event details

Where: The Kromhouthal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

When: Tuesday 30 June 2026