Whisky review 086 : Scapa Skiren
Another review from the BR vault. Sept 2019.
The boys try a no age statement Orcadian (from the Orkneys) dram Scapa.
ABV: 40%
What they say:
Our Whisky Scapa is a surprisingly smooth and honeyed single malt whisky, a unique tasting profile for an island malt.
SKIREN
We call Skiren the honeyed tropical one because of its smooth, creamy sweetness with a hint of tropical fruit, citrus and coastal heather. It is exclusively matured in first-fill American Oak Casks, selected by Scapa artisans.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Delicate scented floral flavours with a hint of fresh pear. Sweet and fruity pineapple notes with a citrus tang.
Taste: Smooth and sweet, ripe honeydew melon slices, bursts of fruity pear and lemon sherbet.
Finish: Long, refreshing, shimmering sweetness.
The Process
From milling to distillation, every stage in the production of Scapa is overseen by the artisans. Situated on the shores of Scapa Flow, our tiny operation is forged by our environment. And though we are at the mercy of nature, we have also harnessed it to produce a most truly unique single malt.
Malting
Unlike other island distilleries no peat is used to dry our malt; this allows the uniquely sweet and tropical flavours of Scapa to come through. Our malt is housed in four sturdy hoppers, and due to the wildly unpredictable weather, they store more barley than bigger distilleries on the mainland.
Mashing
Water for the mashing is piped in from the nearby Orquil Springs, fed by rainfall from the hilltops. This is when the malt is turned into wort, bringing us one step closer to the final product, and releasing the fruity, honey flavours that make Scapa so unique. Benefitting from this process are the local cows, who are fed the draff, or leftover grains. Some even joke that Orkney beef is so tasty because the cows get happy on their own wee drams.
Distillation
True to a small and artisanal island malt, all of our whisky is distilled by only a single pair of stills. We are particularly fond of our barrel-shaped Lomond wash-still, the sole survivor of its style used for making whisky. Installed in 1959, it has a wider, taller neck which is ideal for distillation and results in a richer, fruitier new make spirit.
Maturation
The new make spirit is racked into first-fill American Oak casks, hand selected and brought in from Tennessee and Kentucky. These precious American imports are what brings our single malts their soft vanilla taste. The barrels are then set to rest until our Master Distiller bestows his blessing upon them.
THE ISLAND
A thousand years of shifting skies and rich stories has made this windswept archipelago off the northeast coast of Scotland a beautiful but wild and untameable place of dramatic contrast. A befitting home for such a unique single malt.
THE ELEMENTS
Scapa is an artisanal single malt forged by the extreme elements of Orkney. Tempests rage and rain fills our lochs and flows everywhere. Water from the Orquil Springs is used for the mashing and our rugged climate means less spirit is lost to evaporation, the legendary Angel’s Share which normally claims 2% of every batch.
Weather
Orkney is a place of many contrasts – sometimes we get four seasons in half an hour, so we’ve learned to savour the moment. The often raging wind means few trees can grow on the island yet Scapa distillery finds itself proudly overlooking the white beach and the calm waters of the natural harbour known as Scapa Flow.
Orcadians
We are tough islanders with gentle souls. Our remoteness gives us a strong sense of community and a proud sense of identity. Orcadians are not given to bragging and neither is Scapa whisky, preferring to let the distinctive character of our single malt speak for itself.
History
Despite its remote location in the icy North Atlantic, Orkney has been inhabited for thousands of years. 5000 year old Neolithic sites dot the main island along with 12th century Viking tombs and carvings. Fisherman, traders, explorers and great Naval Armies have also made their way through our storm-tossed waters.
The Artisans
Scapa is crafted by a small team of dedicated artisans and a Master Distiller, using traditional methods perfected over generations. One of the last remaining manually operated distilleries, manned 24 hours a day. Our crew work in successive shifts which means each shoulders the honour of delivering a consistently smooth, creamy sweet single malt on his own. Trust is a word they do not take lightly.
Brian THE CAPTAIN
Our Master Distiller grew up as an Islander determined to follow his dream of working either by the sea or in a distillery. Combining his two great passions, he is now the guardian of our artisanal Orcadian single malt whisky. His father and grandfather were distillery men, so you could say it’s not just a calling, it’s a family tradition.
