Scapa 16yo, ‘the‘ Orcadian
ABV: 40%
Region: Highlands (Orkney Islands)
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery
Cask type: American Bourbon Casks

 

Colour: Rich gold.
Nose: The nose is thick and rich with vanilla and butterscotch. Flavours of sweet tangerine arrive, complemented by orange peel and heather honey, with gentle spiced oak in the back. Sweet and smooth.
Palate: Velvety and full-bodied with rich flavours of vanilla, toffee, and mellow juiciness. This is accompanied by delicate oak and winter spices - cinnamon, caramelised ginger, and cloves. Lingering notes of acacia honey towards the finish.
Finish: The finish is long and warm with a delicate sweetness of toffee, vanilla and gentle spiced honey. Creamy with a hint of bitterness. Lingers nicely with a slightly dry and spicy edge.
With water: Fresh and clean on the nose. Fruity, vanilla sweetness mixed with a hint of the sea. Water significantly tames the sweetness, remaining an unpleasant metallic-like note on the midpalate. The finish is short, subtle sweet with a whiff of warm spices.
Comments: I have to admit I'm very impressed by this Orcadian malt. Nicely sweet with a lovely aroma, a beautiful rich and full-bodied taste, followed by a pleasantly long and enjoyable finish. A tremendously smooth, well-balanced and charming dram. But don’t add any water as it immediately kills the whisky. A great addition to any whisky collection.


Scapa 20yo, 1993-2013, Chivas Brothers Cask Strength Edition
ABV: 58.6%
Region: Highlands (Orkney Islands)
Price per bottle: °°
Bottling: Distillery
Cask type: Bourbon cask (Batch No. SC 20 007, 500ml)

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Starts with tropical fruits, creamy vanilla, subtle floral notes of heather. There is a hint of strawberry with a slight marzipan tone, mixed with oak and a dash of salt. Very appealing nose!
Palate: Surprisingly very sweet with plenty of yellow ripe fruits, peach and tangerine, mixed with floral notes of heather and creamy vanilla. Hints of crispy oak in the middle of the tongue.
Finish: Warm and sweet. Creamy even silky with a long juicy finish of tangerines and peaches.
With water: This one stays sweet with a pleasant fruitiness and creamy vanilla. Gets spicier at the end.
Comments: A delicious and very enjoyable dram. The nose is really charming like you open a fresh Toppy Frutty mix fruit candy box!