SCAPA 1985 SINGLE ISLAND MALT WHISKY

Scapa Distillery is located on the Orkney Islands and is the second most northern distillery in Scotland, just a half a mile south of the Highland Park Distillery. The distillery was founded in 1885 by Macfarlane & Townsend and endured a series of ownership changes during it’s first century of production. During the 1950s it was acquired by Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd (not part of Pernod Ricard) and rebuilt. Further improvements were made in 1978 including the installation of a Lomond type still. It was mothballed in 1994 and shutdown in 2004. Pernod Ricard ultimately decided to reopen the distillery and the first new spirit flowed through the stills in November of 2004. Scapa is known for producing a honey flavored whisky which is less peated than most Island whiskies. While their water supply from the Lingro Burn is peated, it gets transported to the distillery through pipelines to avoid more contact with the peat. Furthermore the malt is not dried over a peat fire. This Scapa 11 year was distilled in 1985 and matured in first fill bourbon barrels. It’s bottled at 40% ABV by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail. TASTING NOTES Nose: vibrant and bright, butterscotch, honey, floral, white grapes, sweet vanilla, sea breeze, tropical fruit, cantaloupe, guava Mouth: subtle smokiness, cocoa powder, peppery, fruity Finish: hint of spices, warming, chalky, citrus, white grapes, soft Verdict: This dram has a beautiful nose which is full of sweet tropical fruits. It makes me feel as if I’m sipping pina coladas on an isolated white sand Caribbean beach. There’s a vibrant fresh sea breeze integrated in the nose as well. Additionally there is white grapes, sweet vanilla, cantaloupe and butterscotch. On the palate there is a subtle smokiness followed by more tropical fruit, cocoa powder and some pepper. The cocoa powder, similar in flavor to the packets used to make instant hot chocolate, also leave a unique chalky flavor on the finish. Up front the finish is warming and spicy. soft. The experience ends all too soon with lingering citrus and white grapes. could have It’s a fun dram that gets points for it’s uniqueness. Note. Image shows later year.