
April 20, 2016

Scapa and Scapa

Pernod’s Scapa has almost always lived in the shadow of the star of Orkney, Highland Park, but it’s always had its aficionados. Let’s have there newish NAS, and then see which other Scapa we could find in the library…

Scapa 'Skiren' (40%, OB, Batch #SK01, 2015)

A hidden age, a strange name, 40% vol., and a rather hefty price (60€), were did we see that before? Colour: gold. Nose: some fresh green oak striking first, then rather sea water and kelp, paraffin, drops of apple vinegar, a thin slice of lemon cake, lilies, hints of broken branches, malted barley, and then we’re back on green oak. It’s rather fresh. Mouth: I find this pretty good, very malty, with some tea-flavoured scones, earl grey, some slightly salted cake, and then perhaps gooseberries. Butterscotch. It’s not big but it’s not weak either. Finish: medium, still salty. Salted cakes and pastries? More butterscotch in the aftertaste, as well as a little coffee. Comments: it’s really fine, and stands the lower strength. I quite like this feeling of salted pastry. SGP:451 - 81 points.

A rather good surprise, that little Skiren, let’s try to find one older Scapa and call this ‘a short session’.

Scapa 25 yo 1974/2000 (50%, Douglas Laing, Old Malt Cask, 524 bottles)

Colour: amber. Nose: ah, a sherry cask. Plenty of chocolate and earth, with ‘dryish’ raisins and some mushrooms. Touches of menthol and liquorice wood. Classic and classy, even if there isn’t a lot of Scapaness coming through this far. With water: old Sauternes and old-style crème de menthe. Some art deco whisky? That’s lovely. Some old Bourgogne as well, with hints of game, black cherries, more earth… Mouth (neat): very good. Cough medicine and bitter oranges, with these touches of salt and some kind of liquoricy raisins. I remember this bottle had a rather high reputation when it came out – yes, how time flies. With water: very very good! Pinesap, mint, raisins, and chocolate. Love the freshness from the mint. Finish: long, a tad grapy, but not in a bad way at all. Hints of botrytised wine – old Sauternes indeed. Comments: truly excellent and complex. One of the best Scapas, for sure. SGP:462 - 90 points.

Check the index of all Scapa I've tasted so far