Scapa

Translation: Haddock bay
Region: Iceland (Orkney)

Only half a mile further.

Then Scapa would be Scotland's northernmost distillery. But the title goes to the immediate neighbors in Kirkwall, the capital of the Orkney Islands: Highland Park. In general, Scapa often stands in the shadow of this larger, more famous - and also more northerly - distillery. But as is the case with neighbors: one also helps oneself. When Scapa went through hard times in the 1990s and was virtually shut down, production was kept alive at least a few months a year - with the help of the Highland Park staff, who in turn were allowed to use the Scapa warehouses.

A little history

Scapa was built in 1885 on the site of a former mill MacFarlane & Townsend from Glasgow.
1919 took over the Scapa Distillery Company Ltd. the shops. Between 1934 and 1936 was not produced, 1936 Scapa went to Bloch Brothers Limited, which they sold in 1954 to Hiram Walker & Sons.

The refurbished the distillery extensively, renewed the stills and also had a so-called Lomond Still install. This special fuel bladder should provide greater flexibility through moving copper plates in the upper area. The original little Lomond Still was replaced by a double in 1971. Today, Scapa is the only malt distillery that uses a Lomond still - however, the adjustable discs have been removed and the still is used like a conventional pot still.

In 1994, Scapa was shut down. Between 1997 and 2004, at least for a few months each year, production was taken over by the Highland Park workforce. Since the end of 2004, the distillery is fully operational again.

Today Scapa is one of the very few distilleries whose whiskey is bottled exclusively as a single malt and does not blend.

What do I actually have in the glass?

Scapa is not what you would expect from an island painting of the harsh Orkneys. The malt is rather fine, with little peat, but clear notes of fruit and vanilla.

3 reasons to love Scapa

1) Because the distillery refuses to fulfill the island expectation.
2) Because the single malt stays here single malt.
3) Because it's not easy in the shade of a size like Highland Park.

The one drama for the lonely island

The 16-year-old original bottling is all Scapa: a soft malt, slightly sweet, with notes of honey and heather and a touch of sea air.

numbers and facts

Address: St. Ola, Kirkwall, Orkney KW15 1SE
Founded in 1885 by Macfarlane & Townsend
Status: active
Owner: Chivas Brothers (Pernod Ricard)
Capacity: approx. 1,500,000 liters
1 wash still (13,500 l)
1 spirit still (12,563 l)
Water: Lingo Burn
Visitor Center: -
Telephone: +44 (0) 1856 876585
Website: www.scapamalt.com