Distillery
Scapa is a Scottish whiskey distillery located in the Orkney Islands, near the town of Kirkwall. It was founded in 1885 by blender John Townsend, who took advantage of the growing interest in blended whiskey at the end of the 19th century. In 1919, the distillery was damaged by fire, but was rebuilt soon after. In 1936 it was bought by the Bloch brothers, who also owned the Glen Scotia and Glengyle distilleries.
In 1959, a Lomond still type still was installed in the distillery, which allowed finer control over the distillation process and contributed to the creation of a whiskey with a more pronounced and richer in character. The still was in operation until 1979.
The distillery was officially closed in 1994, but distilling operations were occasionally resumed by a team from the neighboring Highland Park Distillery. In 2004, a £2.1 million investment was announced to refurbish the distillery and a 14-year-old whiskey was launched at the same time. In 2005, the renovation was completed and the distillery became part of the Pernod Ricard company. The occasion saw a change in bottle design and an increase in the bottled whiskey age from 14 to 16 years.
In 2015, a visitor center was opened and the distillery expanded its range of whiskey. Today, Scapa is known for its fine whiskey with a distinct character that sets it apart from peated Orkney whiskeys such as Highland Park.
Bottle
Scapa 1982 is a single malt whisky, distilled in December 1982 and bottled by independent bottler Ian Macleod in March 2005 as part of the prestigious Chieftain's Choice range. This range emphasizes authenticity in each bottling, with no chill filtration or added coloring, preserving the whisky’s natural character. This expression was matured for 22 years in an Amontillado sherry cask (No. 550) and was bottled at cask strength.
Nose: Intense and rich, with notes of dried fruit, nuts, and a subtle hint of sea air, complemented by sweet sherry undertones.
Taste: Full and complex, with flavors of dark fruit, nuts, spice, and a slight saltiness that transitions into a rich, woody character from prolonged sherry cask aging.
Finish: Long and warm, with lingering notes of dried fruit, oak, and subtle salinity, adding depth and balance.
The auctioned bottle is one of only 582 and is presented in a luxurious paper box.
