Malt Mission 2008 #317

Scapa 14yo
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
40% abv
£30
$56.96 (CAD)
$45(USD)

NOMINATED in the 2008 DRAMMIES
*Most Under-rated whisky
Vote HERE (before Mar 6, 2009)

Based on the northern Orkney islands, Scapa is somewhat of a neglected jewel in the Pernod Ricard (Chivas, Glenlivet, Aberlour) portfolio. The distillery is only producing spirit 3 days a week. It is unsual in still using a lomond still, although it is operated as a normal still today (the parallel plates have been removed), and Scapa practices the longest fermentation time of any distillery: 160 hours.

This Scapa 14 expression replaced the Scapa 12 (Malt Mission #67) expression in 2004 and the rumours are that a Scapa 16 may be soon replacing this 14yo. To be fair, this sort of thing makes sense as their stocks from a period of when the distillery was mothalled (1994-2004) must be very limited as the only spirit produced during these years was when staff from the nearby Highland Park distillery would come by for a couple months per year to fire up the stills. So most the stock to be used to make a well-rounded spirit may actually be quite a bit older than 12, 14, or 16 (hence the age jumps, and justifiable price jumps).

For more distillery info or to see all Scapas had on the Malt Mission, click HERE.

TASTING NOTES:

Powdered candied sweets. Earth, soil and salt, oak and fruits. Little jojoba. FunDip. Really quite appetising.

Soft and juicy, like actual juice... and booze. Toffee sweet, drying with time. Dirtier and drier with time. Feels good in the mouth.

SUMMARY:

Extremely enjoyable. Light nose, heavier body, sweet and salty dram with few comparisons.

Malt Mission #316
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