PBMichiganWolverine
Scapa Skiren
Single Malt — Islands, Scotland
Reviewed
August 1, 2018 (edited November 27, 2018)
This one is courtesy of @Scott_E as part of our final sampling round. I don’t know about this one...it has potential, but just too young and rough around the edges. Nose Is slightly briny, slightly oaky, a bit of fruit. But, non-assertive. Palette is similar. Fruity, salty...but, it quite doesnt’ assert itself like it’s other brethren Islanders. If I compare to the other Islanders of equal price: a Talisker 10 and HP 12 have more complexity, assertiveness, and flavor than this one. A Jura has as well, but personally I always found Juras to be the schizophrenic dysfunctional child in that Island group. I always imagined an Islander Christmas office party where Talisker is the brand that’s making printouts of her arse in the copier machine while smoking under a “do not smoke” sign, while HP is the pretty one dressed up as a Viking, Jura is the drunk crazy guy, Arran is trying to be like Talisker but gets chewed out by Human Resources instead, while Tobermory and Scapa are the two wall flowers. Anyway...This is about $45 or so. A Talisker 10 is about $50. If you really want the salty-briny sea air taste of an Islander, this ain’t it...go for the Talisker 10 for a bit of pocket change more. So... I ask the basic question again...why does this particular one exist? Market forces should dictate it be wiped away since better Islanders are there for similar pricing. What do I know...just my two cents.
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Haha nice review. Will stay clear I think!
@PBMichiganWolverine - one would think a person would be running out of good material after 500 reviews, but apparently not. Nice one! :)
@PBMichiganWolverine Yes, I've often had that feeling - the experience of being there both focuses and mutes the senses. I've had the same thing in reverse, too. My first tastes of Deanston were at the distillery and I didn't much like any of their whiskies, however subsequent tastes at home were more positive.
@The_Rev i didn’t find it f0r $45...I simply did a search and noticed a few places in NJ carrying it for that amount. @cascode I think the flavors at the distillery are heightened by the experience. I had a similar experience at a small family run mezcal distillery in Oaxaca. Being there added to the flavors...just fools the brain I think
@LeeEvolved & @PBMichiganWolverine I've found this to be quite variable, as is the Glansa expression. The tastes I had at the distillery last year impressed me enough to buy a bottle of each when I got back home, but the juice in the bottles was very unexciting. Maybe batch issues? Maybe the excitement of tasting it in situ looking out over Scapa Flow? Who knows.
Where did you find this for $45? I have yet to see it under $65. I like it enough to pay $40-ish for it, maybe...but even then, I still prefer Scapa's other NAS, Glansa. The finishing in a barrel which previously held peated whisky gives the Glansa a pleasant nip of smoke and sea salt, which the sweet fruitiness of the base malt needs to be interesting.
@LeeEvolved and that there answers my question: it’s still in existence b/c everyone is different
Hmm, I actually quite enjoyed this one.
Haha. Arran is trying to be like Talisker but gets chewed out by human resourches instead. Nice. Scapa should not exist. Orkney belongs to highland park. They don't have any age statements left. They aren't well thought of even in the independent bottler world.