Seven Scapa plus a bonus

At time of writing the 2 present official expressions are a pair of fairly uninspiring NAS choices. If ever there was a distillery that was crying out for a re-think and a relaunch, it’s Scapa. Particularly given how extremely it has been considered a single malt through the years by many whisky drinkers; I bear in mind the now discontinued 16yo hardly sat on the cabinets after I labored in Peckhams and Oddbins in Glasgow. For now although, it appears as if it’s destined to stay a mixing machine for Pernod – which little question the blenders are very joyful about, understandably. It isn’t usually we get to tase many Scapas facet by facet, so this needs to be a reasonably instructive and attention-grabbing wee session. However first, an aperitif… 

Scapa 10 yo 2006/2017 (59.2%, OB ‘Distillery Reserve Assortment’, cask #2173, 1st fill sherry butt, 888 bottles)
I feel it is a reasonably cool sequence, however I am not a fan of 50cl bottles which I really feel are a bit fiddly. Color: amber. Nostril: an enormous, reasonably punchy sherry bomb. A lot of jams, treacle, sticky toffee pudding, dry earthiness and chocolate. Additionally some mirabelle eau de vie and wild strawberry notes coming by. With water: a tad brutal because it turns into even drier and on issues like earth, espresso grounds, snapped twigs, clay and coal mud. A wee freeze dried raspberry including a glimmer of sunshine aid. Mouth: a barely sudden profile that goes extra in direction of herbs, roots and issues like black pepper, pure tar, camphor and prune eau de vie. Additionally reasonably mulchy and drying which is consistent with this specific model of reasonably punchy sherry. With water: somewhat simpler now, darkish grained breads, milk chocolate, roasted nuts, wooden spices and cloves. End: fairly lengthy, bitterly natural, sooty, frivolously tarry and medicinal. Feedback: a ‘take no prisoners’ model of sherry that is somewhat too brutal for me at occasions, however I am certain followers of this specific model will lap this up. Technically spectacular little question. 
SGP: 472 – 85 factors. 

Scapa 12 yo 2003/2015 (58.5%, OB ‘Distillery Reserve Assortment, casks #9-12 & 14-16, 2148 bottles)
Color: pale gold. Nostril: a stunning and extremely refreshing profile, plenty of moist seashore pebbles, linens, chalk, white flowers and that acquainted heather honey vibe. Impressively sharp, contemporary, pure and pure. I additionally discover some beautiful agency cereal notes and wee touches of fennel and lime. With water: nonetheless an exquisite freshness about it, white flowers, white fruits, citrus zests, mild fruit teas and crisp notes of inexperienced apple and gooseberry. Mouth: somewhat sweeter up entrance, extra on citrus curds, white flowers and pollens, sweeter cereal notes, olive oil, overripe yellow plums and lime cordial. With water: lemon infused olive oil, dried mango and pineapple chunks, soda bread and starched linens. End: medium in size and once more reasonably pure, contemporary and targeted on cereals, pebbles, dried herbs and breads. Feedback: a stunning Scapa, some barely sweeter incursions from the wooden right here and there on the palate, however general that is all about freshness and pure flavours. 
SGP: 551 – 86 factors. 

Scapa 12 yo 2006/2018 (61.1%, OB ‘Distillery Reserve Assortment’, cask #674, 1st fill butt, 828 bottles)
Color: rosy amber. Nostril: a reasonably fashionable and jammy sherry profile that is extra about wooden than sherry. It is clear wooden, however it’s rathe assertive with these lactone and spice notes. Beneath that although there are lots good notes of sultanas, strawberry jam, fig paste and treacle cake. Actually these reasonably straightforward, juicy qualities turn out to be extra outstanding with time. With water: jam and ham! Certainly, these barely gamey, leathery, meat inventory vibes come by clearly right here. Together with these crimson fruit discount notes. Mouth: spiced darkish fruits, cherry bakewell cake, plums stewed in Armagnac and notes of clove and wintergreen. Huge, spicy, fashionable whisky, however very clear and juicy. With water: chocolate sauce, a touch of chilli powder and boozy fruit cake. End: good size and with loads of chocolate, espresso and natural wines. Feedback: these are enjoyable however reasonably tiring whiskies, I additionally really feel just like the Scapa character has been considerably eradicated by these huge beastly casks, which is a little bit of a disgrace. Now, as I discussed above, they continue to be technically superb for my part. 
SGP: 561 – 86 factors.

Scapa 15 yo 2001/2017 (53.5%, OB ‘Distillery Reserve Assortment’, cask #663, 1st fill barrel, 312 bottles)
Color: pale gold. Nostril: we’re again in the identical territory of that bourbon cask 12yo: ample freshness, linens, citrus, pebbles and chalk. Right here it is also a tad greener and extra herbaceous with issues like pollens and vase water extra outstanding up entrance. That is actually my kind of Scapa, I would take this any day over and above these huge sherry brutes. With water: an exquisite heathery vibe with extra pollens, linens, fruit teas and dried herbs. ‘Aromatic’ can be the phrase. Mouth: syrupy and candy right here, with the cask clearly having a voice, however this focus has additionally produced some beautiful inexperienced and unique fruit cordial notes. Lemon curd, citrus jams, mushy waxy and peppery notes and a wee coastal flower vibe within the background. With water: juicy yellow fruits now, additionally somewhat guava and mango, some stout beer and notes of clove and wintergreen. End: lengthy, peppery, natural and honeyed. Feedback: Scapa is such curious make, it may have very clear and wonderful persona and charisma, but appears to be extraordinarily delicate and troublesome to pin down properly in bottle. Anyway, this one actually works, a stunning choice and a vastly charming wee whisky. 
SGP: 551 – 88 factors.

Scapa 23 yo 1992/2015 (58.4%, OB ‘Distillery Reserve Assortment’, cask #1069, butt, 780 bottles)
Color: pale amber. Nostril: right away you are feeling that is an older profile of sherry cask, that is extra on leathers, waxes, mineral oils and mushy notes of preserved darkish fruits. Some liquorice, aged mead, ice cider and impressions of very outdated Fins Bois cognac. A stunning nostril so far. With water: water brings out extra fruits akin to sultanas, wild strawberry, plums and a few natural liqueur notes too. Mouth: prunes, dates, fudge, recreation meat inventory, Maggi, salted liquorice and natural bitters. Highly effective however on the identical time properly detailed with fairly particular flavours in stability. Will get more and more gamey and leathery with extra tobacco and chocolate points. With water: rancio, walnut, natural bitters and recreation meats. End: lengthy, with wooden spices, extra leathery notes, natural bitters, aniseed, citrus and treacle. Feedback: It is a completely completely different model to the later sherry casks we simply tried, however I really feel it is across the identical ballpark by way of high quality. I simply discover the Scapa DNA very laborious to pin down in these. Now, in and of itself it is a very high quality drop with somewhat extra soul than among the others. 
SGP: 462 – 86 factors

Due to Iain D for making this session doable.