Scapa 21 Years Old (50.7%)

This official Scapa single malt, a 21 year old and bottled at 50.7%. Scapa, built in 1885 overlooking Scapa Flow near Kirkwall, is the honeyed counterpoint to peated Highland Park. Its wash still is a rare Lomond still, the plates long removed, giving a creamy, oily spirit through heavy copper contact.

Distilled through a rare Lomond wash still and an onion spirit still, with heavy copper contact, giving the oily, fruit driven spirit at its heart. First fill American oak held it, layering vanilla and honey over the fruit. Beyond eighteen years the malt grows oily and waxy, tropical fruit and honey over a soft sea air. Years in oak round the spirit, the honey and tropical fruit deepening with age. The distillery looks out over Scapa Flow, the great anchorage of two world wars. Water from the Lingro Burn is piped to keep the spirit clear of peat. A long fermentation of up to seventy hours coaxes out the fruity esters.

At a hearty 50.7% it carries real weight. The refill oak lending honey and vanilla, with pear, banana and a gentle spice. The texture is creamy and oily, the fruit lifted by honey. The finish is deep, oily and fruity. This is a creamy, unpeated Orkney single malt.