Scapa 21 Years Old

An official Scapa single malt, a 21 year old release and bottled at 52.9%. Established in 1885 on the shore of Scapa Flow on Orkney, Scapa is Orkney's unpeated island malt. Unusually for an island malt, Scapa is wholly unpeated, soft and honeyed where its neighbours are smoky.

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. Past eighteen years the spirit turns waxy and deep while keeping its fruit. First fill American oak suits the make, layering vanilla and honey over the fruit. The creamy, fruit forward style sets Scapa apart from its smoky island neighbours. Scapa Flow saw the German High Seas Fleet scuttled in the summer of 1919. Scapa sits a mile from Highland Park, yet makes a wholly unpeated, honeyed malt. Its rare Lomond wash still, plates removed, gives a creamy, oily spirit through heavy copper contact.

At 52.9%, undiluted, it is deep and creamy. Honey, melon and a maritime lift meet a quiet vanilla from the refill oak. Beneath it run honey, pear and a soft spice. It finishes clean, honeyed and soft. This is the honeyed island malt of Orkney.