Scapa 12 Years Old 1979 Celtic Series The Book of Kells (G&M)

From Gordon & MacPhail comes this Scapa, a 12 year old release from 1979 and bottled at 40%. Scapa, founded in 1885 by Macfarlane and Townsend on the shore of Scapa Flow on Orkney, is the honeyed counterpoint to peated Highland Park. For decades the malt fed the Ballantine's and Teacher's blends before its single malt fame.

It was worked through a Lomond still and an onion still for body and fruit, for the creamy, honeyed make Scapa is known for. Maturation came in American oak, with vanilla under the orchard fruit. Around twelve to sixteen years the malt gains a fuller honey over the fruit. The creamy new make takes American oak particularly well. The malt long fed the Ballantine's and Teacher's blends before its own fame grew. It is one of the few distilleries still worked largely by hand. Founded in 1885, it is the second oldest distillery on Orkney after Highland Park. Island maturation by the sea lends a faint salt air to the honeyed spirit.

At 40% it is smooth and honeyed. Creamy honey and ripe pear sit alongside a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. A ripe melon and a gentle spice lift it. A honeyed, fruity finish lingers long. This is the soft Orkney malt by Scapa Flow.