Nairobi’s cocktail culture is getting a focused spotlight this April as Monkey Shoulder rolls out Old Fashioned Month, a citywide experience built around one of the world’s most enduring cocktails.
The month long campaign stretches across more than 25 bars and restaurants in the city, inviting both seasoned whisky drinkers and the whisky curious to engage with the Old Fashioned in a more accessible, social way. It is as much about the drink as it is about the spaces and people shaping Nairobi’s evolving nightlife.
At the centre of it all is Monkey Shoulder, a blended malt Scotch whisky designed specifically for mixing. Made from three Speyside single malts and matured in ex-bourbon casks, it carries notes of malt, vanilla, and soft spice – qualities that lend themselves easily to a balanced Old Fashioned.
Participating venues will feature a dedicated menu built around two interpretations: the Old Fashioned Perfect Serve, a refined take on the classic, and a Bartender’s Twist, where individual bartenders bring their own creativity into the glass. The result is not just consistency, but variation; different expressions of the same drink depending on where you are in the city.
There is also a deliberate emphasis on experience. The campaign leans into in bar moments that encourage people to try something new, revisit a familiar drink and engage more intentionally with cocktail culture.
“Old Fashioned Month is about bringing people together and making whisky more approachable,” says Joe Petch, Global Brand Ambassador. “Whether it’s your first time or a return to a favourite, we want it to feel social and easy.”
The participating list reflects Nairobi’s range, from established institutions to newer social spaces. Venues include Hero, Jiko, Troy Mediterranean, Mezze on The Deck, Karen Country Club, Geco, Chronos, Kwetu by Hilton Carnivore, Kengeles, Fifteen Rooftop, Muthaiga Golf Club, Parklands Sports Club, Ciel, Alloy, Brew Bistro, The Roof (Ibis Styles), 254 Beer District, Fahrenheit Lounge, Bambino, Inca (Social House), Ate, and About Thyme, among others.
By rooting the campaign in Nairobi rather than treating it as a generic global rollout, Monkey Shoulder taps into a city that is steadily defining its own drinking culture—one that is social, experimental, and increasingly confident in its taste.
