Origin: Orkney (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 48%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex bourbon
Chillfiltered: No
Added colouring: No
Owner: Pernod Ricard
Average price: € 70.00
Official website: www.scapawhisky.com
Always willing to catch up with little-visited distilleries on these pages, I taste what for many is ‘the other Orkney distillery’, one of the Cinderellas in the Scotch whisky scene.
Scapa has overhauled its entire core range in 2024, bringing back the 16 year old after a long absence (the old version is the only other Scapa on the blog) alongside the 21yo and this 10yo, all as part of a general revamp including the visitor centre which, in the opinion of those who have been there, is truly spectacular.
The label mentions maturation in American wood casks, which could be more or less anything, but it is reasonable to assume they are ex-bourbon.
Tasting Notes
Fresh and clean nose, very classic with white fruit (apple, pear, banana, pineapple, peach, mango), almonds, a touch of gooseberry, hints of black pepper and cinnamon, marzipan and candyfloss. It rounds out over time, allowing the pastry of vanilla, dried apricots, coconut cream and shortcrust pastry to emerge, with a hint of sea breeze. Slight waxy base note, with sandalwood. Solid.
More lively spices at the mouth, plenty of black pepper, ginger and cumin with cinnamon, picking up the score of the nose with fruit between fresh, dried and nuts with a clear mineral bracket running through the palate. Citrus fruits between lime and grapefruit, with a bitter streak of rhubarb and coffee together with flashes of bitter cocoa and wood. Saline note in crescendo, with dryness following its progress together with a greater incidence of almonds and candyfloss.
The finish is quite long and dry, where the bitter streak marries the saline one, framing spices, fruit in various forms, and sugar paste.
It lacks a personality, a sparkle that makes it stand out from many other similar Scotches, but otherwise it is a full, solid, pleasant dram, the kind that a bottle in company finishes in an evening. Promoted.
Vote: 84/100