Scapa the “other” Orcadian distillery (Orcadian meaning located on the island of Orkney), has just recently opened its gates to visitors, as it opened a new visitor center in April 2015. From a whisky geek’s point of view Scapa is a bit different than the other distilleries as it hosts A unique barrel-shaped Lomond wash still – the only remaining working Lomond in the Scotch whisky industry (which is said to result in a richer and fruiter honeyed spirit). As it seems Scapa has gone NAS too (as quite a few distilleries have gone – not there’s anything wrong with that…), and this will be their entry level dram, alongside the 16 year old (which is rumored to disappear altogether and be replaced with a 14 year old, and a more mature 25 year old [new!]). If you’ve been drinking whisky and following Scapa, you may have noticed that a 14 year old which existed a few years ago was replaced by the 16, year old not that long ago, so it is indeed a bit bizarre there’s another change to the original 14 year (dwindling stock?). At any rate, this NAS will be the new Entry level dram from Scapa. This expression is Exclusive matured in First Fill American Oak casks, and pricing was set at $60 USD.
Scapa Skiren, NAS , $60 USD / £31 
Nose: Quite a generic feel to it. Apple and pear with cereal and dine baked Orchard fruit. A bit of perfumed flower petals. Getting Sweeter and more perfume like with time, with some honey and melon, and a hint of pineapple.
Palate: Sweet and honeyed with milk chocolate and plenty of fresh fruit. Some sultanas too but not over sweet. Peach and apricot. Pepper.
Finish : Oaky Sweet with chocolate. Dry.
This is a nice little dram, NAS or no NAS, you can tell it’s a Scapa (as it does continue the honeyed, melon / exotic fruit profile of the 14 yo , and some similarities to the 16 yo), yet you can feel this is younger, and less harmonic than those two. A nice entry level dram, but my advice is that you shell out some more money, and get the 16 year old while you can.
Let’s see how the Scapa line of products looks like after the changes (rumored) to take place. In the meantime, a nice sweet dram to enjoy, for a reasonable price.
Nice wee review and I’m sure I will look for this Scapa in the shop. However, I think you made a mistake, there is another distillery using Lomond stills – Loch Lomond distillery 😉
Well, not according to the PR:)