Scapa 24 yo 1965 / 1990 Cadenhead 50.1% vs Scapa 25 yo 1980 / 2005 54%
Just 2 distilleries in the Orkney Islands and I don’t need to mention it’s famous brother. Well this is the workhorse sibling, whose output disappears into blends though every now and then an independent gets hold of a barrel.
Scapa is notable for the Lomond still installed in 1959, and still in use though contrary to the purpose of a Lomond still, Scapa’s is intentionally used as a wash still and in a way that has less impact on the distillate. Other interesting snippets are that the malting floors were closed in 1962 (and that as well as the date in the previous sentence should hint at why the 1958 Samarolis are in a different style from more modern bottlings), and also that the distillery was silent between 1994 to 1997, and then had limited production till 2004, when full production recommenced.
Scapa 24 yo 1965 / 1990 Cadenhead 50.1%
Full of black grease and soot, and thin phenols without being overtly peaty. Sharp salt and sea air, oily resin and the unexpected thin floral sweetness of crushed heather. Lots of earthy aspects too – vegetation crunching underfoot, petrichor and fresh compost. You know its got great coherence when elements like that come together like a tetris champion’s wet dream. The gods of maturation have seen fit to put together this one with great skill, and cast it in the old mold, now lost.
Scapa 25 yo 1980 / 2005 54%
Seems that by 1980 Scapa had lost it’s phenolic aspects, and stepped bravely into .. the unlikely. While the salt remains, and in fact seems vividly amplified next to the wood glue, splintered oak, and .. heather soap? Throw in the tart green piquancy of fresh cut nutmeg fruit, and thick greens aromatics reminiscent of patchouli. Very unusual notes for a whisky, but very eye opening as well. Who can say what the Orcadian style is anyway.
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