Scapa Skiren

Scapa Skiren, NAS, 40 %

Scapa Distillery on Orkney has led a quiet life for many years. It is now waking up from its slumber, and you can read more about that and my visit to the distillery here. They recently decided to phase out their Scapa 16 YO in favour of a new NAS release called Scapa Skiren. This change is not yet reflected on the official web site, as they only mention the 16 YO there. A bit odd, but focus is surely elsewhere.

The Scapa Skiren was released in September 2015. Here's a quick quote from the drinks report at the time:

The whisky, which gets its name from the Old Norse word for glittering bright skies, is distilled in a unique barrel-shaped Lomond wash still – the only remaining working Lomond in the Scotch whisky industry – and matured in first fill American Oak casks.

You can buy the Scapa Skiren in Norway at NOK 600 (3506001), or online in the UK at around GBP 38.

Nose (20/25): A bit young-ish on the nose - lacking in complexity and depth. Fruity with some vanilla and mild oak notes. Soft, oaky spices, eucalyptus, and wet saw dust. Slightly perfumy.

Taste (18/25): Watery mouthfeel. Less fruity now, and all the more oak, perfume and sweetness. Sugary.

Finish (18/25): Short to medium finish. Soft caramel and vanilla notes. Some of the fruitiness from the nose is back. Still sugary.

Balance (19/25): I do love Orkney, and I find Scapa to be a very charming and nice distillery, but the Scapa Skiren was not really all that. I would have wanted more of...well, everything really. This is very Even Steven.

Score (75/100)

Image from Master of Malt.

Sláinte! - Thomas