Scapa unveils new core range
Chivas Brothers-owned Scapa Distillery on the Isle of Orkney has released its debut signature single malts collection.
The new signature range, consisting of three expressions – a 10, 16, and 21-year-old – is said to showcase Scapa's fresh new look and unique flavour profile. Its design was inspired by 'the calm pace of life within the sanctuary of the Scapa Flow'. The trio of age-statement single malts form Scapa's first permanent range since the distillery was established in 1885. It was crafted by head distiller Mick Swanney, on Scotland’s most northerly whisky-producing island. The distillery's distinctive flavour profile comes from using an extended fermentation period and unpeated malted barley. Matured in first-fill American oak casks, each single malt brings its unique flavour experience, centred around tropical and fruity notes that showcase Scapa’s hallmark style. The youngest expression in the range, the 10-year-old, displays flavours of fresh pineapple on the palate with subtle spice notes on the finish. The single malt is offered at 48% ABV and has a suggested retail price of €60 (US$65/£50). Scapa 16-year-old is a nod to a discontinued expression from the distillery and offers ripe mangoes on the nose and sweet, spiced and fruity notes on the palate. The expression is bottled at 48% ABV and retails for €120 (US$130/£100). Completing the signature range with an RRP of €300 (US$324/£250), the 21-year-old Scapa is a cask-strength single malt that offers tropical fruit flavours on the palate, with hints of aromatic oak and spices. Each expression in the collection is housed in a bottle and gift box reminiscent of 'the natural beauty of the Scapa Distillery’s coastal surroundings'. The bottle pays homage to the old Nordic dialect word for ‘boat’. Scapa’s namesake sits on each bottle, while the colour palette reflects the hues of the area’s wild waters and unique landscape, darkening in shade as the range ages. Swanney said: “Scapa has been telling its own tale of life on Orkney for 139 years since its inception in 1885, and the launch of our first collection of aged single malts marks a significant new chapter in our history. "The new collection is a celebration of provenance, backed by more than a century of whisky making, which together capture the irresistibly tranquil essence of Scapa.” Scapa's new signature range is now available in select markets, including Norway and France. It will be available globally from mid-November 2024 at The Whisky Exchange. The trio will also be available for tasting at the Scapa Noust, the distillery’s tasting room with undisturbed views across the Scapa Flow. In addition to discovering the flavours of the new collection, guests can also take a guided distillery tour.
