A little trio of recent official Scapa


March 18, 2025

A little trio of recent official Scapa

Scapa is not often tasted, except perhaps in the form of indie ‘Secret Orkneys’, which are always believed to be from Highland Park. Pernod Ricard has given the brand a bit of a boost in recent times, so it’s high time we discovered their new expressions…

(Scapa)

Scapa 10 yo (48%, OB, American oak, 2024)

Worth noting is the rising alcohol strength, which could—just an observation—suggest a focus on malt enthusiasts rather than the wider public, which seems increasingly drawn to lightness, if not outright superficiality, in all things. Right. Colour: gold. Nose: indeed, not the rather light and airy malt one might have expected a few years back; on the contrary, it has presence, even a certain weight, with spicy notes on the nose, sunflower oil, very ripe apple, orange cake, exotic fruit jam, as well as Sichuan pepper and even a wee touch of curry. Style-wise, it seems to lean somewhat towards that other great Orkney name. Mouth: very fruity but with a lovely mentholated touch, almost medicinal, certainly a little salty, though it remains on pineapple and apple. Gradually shifting towards allspice, with a bit of turmeric and caraway. A small spoonful of mashed potato. Finish: great length, beautifully stewed fruits complemented by spices—pepper, turmeric, nutmeg, mint, ginger… Roasted pineapple lingers in the aftertaste. Comments: I forgot to mention the honeyed side. This is very good, with active oak, no doubt about it. Glad to see Scapa back!
SGP:651 - 85 points.

Scapa 16 yo (48%, OB, American oak, 2024)

Same elements, same battle, same manoeuvre here, with active American oak. I quite like that they seem to aim to preserve a ‘house style’ across multiple expressions rather than veering off in all directions (cabernet, PX, IPA, merlot, mizunara—you get the idea). Colour: gold. Nose: this is rather amusing, as you really feel like you’re standing in front of the same whisky, just six years older. It’s therefore rounder, more on exotic fruit preserves (banana and mango), orange blossom, honeysuckle, marmalade, but also beach sand and a hint of ‘old cellar’. Very pretty, with even a touch of ‘oceanic melon’ à la B’laddich. Mouth: same sensations, almost a concentrated version of the 10-year-old in every dimension. Beautiful notes of quince paste, oranges, and citron. Careful—high drinkability index. Finish: long, lovely, on candied fruits (orange zest) with a touch of liquorice and mint. Comments: I find this really very good. Give this one some of your precious time, you do get a bit of active white oak, but you have to look for it.
SGP:651 - 87 points.

Scapa 21 yo (52.9%, OB, American oak, 2024)

Same comments—it’s clever to showcase what additional years will do rather than highlighting different wine finishes like others do. Rioja vs. Bordeaux? What’s the point in your malt whisky? Now, we just need to find out why they added 4.9% ABV… Who can explain the how and why of it all? Colour: gold. Nose: of course, not an issue in itself, but the higher strength does somewhat restrain the aromas, even if very ripe apples and crème de menthe are already jostling at the gate. Beautiful wafts of baked apples with honey and cinnamon. With water: still a little less expressive than the 16-year-old, perhaps a touch less singular, but the arrival of Williams pear eau-de-vie makes a convincing case. Mouth (neat): that ‘blocking’ effect is far less noticeable on the palate, and this is quite clearly 10 years + 6 years + 5 years. Some bitters appear, but the overall profile is dominated by apples and honey—a simple yet utterly divine combination. With water: still apples and honey, now joined by a bit of cinnamon, liquorice, and lemon. Very, very good. Finish: long, with more citrus and honey, and that damn Williams pear trying to take centre stage in the aftertaste. Comments: in any case, this lovely trio of 10, 16, and 21 tells a great story. The use of active oak is well-controlled—nothing to add. I really like this 21, even if it’s ‘just a bit pricey’.
SGP:651 - 88 points.

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