Shoulder Therapy
Shoulder Therapy is silky, aromatic, and just a little provocative. It blends gentle sweetness with herbaceous depth and a playful crackle of warming spice. The drink starts out smooth, then gradually reveals a richer and more intriguing core. Created by Nick Park of Vancouver, BC, who is known for bold and out-of-the-box flavour combinations, this was the winning cocktail for Flavor Camp’s Scotchtember Cocktail Challenge in 2025, and it remains a modern, memorable, and quietly addictive serve.
Recipe: Nick Park (Vancouver, BC)
Photo: Reece Sims
Cocktail Flavor Camps
The inspiration behind this cocktail, as explained by bartender Nick Park, “I love a spicy note and Monkey Shoulder has some hints of spice I wanted to extend on. It’s a perfect bartenders spirit, as it blends beautifully into the other flavours and accentuates them.“
Shoulder Therapy
Difficulty: EasyFlavor Camps: Sweet, Boozy, Nutty
Ingredients
1.5 oz Monkey Shoulder
0.75 oz Peppercorn Infused Amaretto*
0.75oz Sweet Vermouth
2 dashes Angostura Orange Bitters
Garnish: Peppercorn Cracker
Directions
- Add all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice.
- Throw to chill and aerate.
- Double strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish.
Notes
- *Peppercorn Amaretto: 1 bottle amaretto, 10g whole black peppercorn (Toast peppercorns, put in jar together and let sit until desired taste. Strain out peppercorns before use.)