*IMPORTANT NEW INFO* So, it turns out after some comments and even more digging that this whisky is actually Highland Park, although a rather weak example with almost no peat. Apologies for that, everyone. My points about Scapa still stand.
Orkney is one of my favourites in so far as I love their indie bottlings. Whitlaw 2013 - 10 Year Old - Signatory Vintage was fantastic recently and £40!!!
I know l shouldn't - but I'm going to. I am within easy cycling distance of Scapa distillery. It has to be said that all of the 'affordable' distillery only bottlings, incl those on the website, are - regardless of age - 90+. Keep up the good work. FYI I would never cycle to HP - all of the brandings for the past 6 years have gone towards funding Edrington's activities at their Speyside distillery.
I don't believe any of the Secret Orkneys have ever been Scapa - that goes both for bottlings from Signatory and other indie bottlings. There is so much of a name in Scapa, or scarcity if you will, these days that it would get at the very least be hinted on the label
It's definitely not a Highland Park, purely on smell and taste. 'Unnamed Orkney' has been named in place of Scapa on some old bottlings I've seen come and go in the shop, but that was a decade ago now.
Just recently purchases a 2005 Unnamed Orkney bottled in 2018 confirmed as Scapa at 56.2%. Seems like it was just as it re-opened after renovation and just before Pernod bought it.
I am absolutely with you on the topic that Scapa is owned by the wrong ppl. Funny enough Billy Walker wanted to buy it but PR didn't sell... so he bought Glenallachie. Edit: oh sorry, wrote this comment before you spoke exactly about that 😅.
Intrigued as I'd love to try it if it is actually Scapa. I found a reference to it being 'Not Scapa' on Whisky Shop but nothing to suggest that it is. Can you share the link if you find it please?
Purchase link is below, it's gone up a few pounds but is still interesting. I found a few reviews saying 'Not Scapa' - but I think this is intended as more sarcasm than it pointing to being from HP. There's no smoke anywhere in it, either. www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/70803/secret-orkney-2009-13-year-old-signatory?source=&g_acctid=734-378-4471&g_adgroupid=153507119205&g_adid=679035490279&g_adtype=pla&g_campaign=UK+-+Shopping+-+Whisky&g_campaignid=20732643038&g_ifcreative=&g_ifproduct=product&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=pla-2245049369415&g_merchantid=2444294&g_network=g&g_partition=2245049369415&g_productchannel=online&g_productid=70803&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxaCvBhBaEiwAvsLmWGA0pc5DnhQnDmmdX6GG3HQ2InjDy7UHtGt2xB5aAmFGcqjOG4nGQhoC7rAQAvD_BwE
Not a fan of Scapa . Bought the Glansa & Skirren at the same time, having never tasted beforehand. Couldn’t bring myself to chuck it down the sink at the price I paid. Not much of a cocktail drinker, but became one until the bottles were empty. Once burned …….
I've got an The Ultimate Unnamed Orkney 2006, (also HP iirc 16 or 17 yo at 46%) that's a lot like you describe here. It's got an extremely light nose and taste with the slightest hint of peat (less even than Scapa Glansa, which I like a lot as a "breakfast Whisky". There's a little dry tannic in the back, but mostly just very empty with a bit of sweet floral citrus going on. A huge letdown for that price and age. Idk what Highland Park's been doing but they do something very wrong in my opinion. This is borderline boring.
I can't say you're far from wrong. Given that it's HP, it's so odd, but it was only £46. A very 2D whisky with some big questions around it. There must have been huge batches of these style casks that were sold onto indie bottlers.
I've had a couple of Scale G&M bottles but I completely agree: where is Scapa. They can't be selling all their liquid through the NAS bottlings, so are they stocking up reserves, are they selling barrels without the name attached/generic highland, or are they blending it? I have never understood the price it demands when you do see it (in the US at least).
*IMPORTANT NEW INFO*
So, it turns out after some comments and even more digging that this whisky is actually Highland Park, although a rather weak example with almost no peat. Apologies for that, everyone.
My points about Scapa still stand.
Orkney is one of my favourites in so far as I love their indie bottlings.
Whitlaw 2013 - 10 Year Old - Signatory Vintage was fantastic recently and £40!!!
I was so tempted by that, but this bottling put me off a little bit.
I know l shouldn't - but I'm going to. I am within easy cycling distance of Scapa distillery. It has to be said that all of the 'affordable' distillery only bottlings, incl those on the website, are - regardless of age - 90+. Keep up the good work.
FYI I would never cycle to HP - all of the brandings for the past 6 years have gone towards funding Edrington's activities at their Speyside distillery.
Get on that cycle!
I don't believe any of the Secret Orkneys have ever been Scapa - that goes both for bottlings from Signatory and other indie bottlings.
There is so much of a name in Scapa, or scarcity if you will, these days that it would get at the very least be hinted on the label
It's definitely not a Highland Park, purely on smell and taste. 'Unnamed Orkney' has been named in place of Scapa on some old bottlings I've seen come and go in the shop, but that was a decade ago now.
Never have I been more wrong before. It is indeed Highland Park.
Just recently purchases a 2005 Unnamed Orkney bottled in 2018 confirmed as Scapa at 56.2%. Seems like it was just as it re-opened after renovation and just before Pernod bought it.
The good ol' days of 2005.
I finished a bottle of this a couple of weeks ago and absolutely loved it, I thought it was Scapa, not from experience, so I’m surprised it’s HP
Same here, in all honesty. I'm trying again right now and don't get a whiff of HP anywhere on it.
I am absolutely with you on the topic that Scapa is owned by the wrong ppl. Funny enough Billy Walker wanted to buy it but PR didn't sell... so he bought Glenallachie.
Edit: oh sorry, wrote this comment before you spoke exactly about that 😅.
At least I know there's some truth to the story now.
Would love a Scapa at 46 ABV. I have a bottle of the Orcaian Glansa at 40 and it’s mmmh not much going on.
Yeah, just not loved at all by the parent company.
Intrigued as I'd love to try it if it is actually Scapa. I found a reference to it being 'Not Scapa' on Whisky Shop but nothing to suggest that it is. Can you share the link if you find it please?
Purchase link is below, it's gone up a few pounds but is still interesting. I found a few reviews saying 'Not Scapa' - but I think this is intended as more sarcasm than it pointing to being from HP. There's no smoke anywhere in it, either.
www.thewhiskyexchange.com/p/70803/secret-orkney-2009-13-year-old-signatory?source=&g_acctid=734-378-4471&g_adgroupid=153507119205&g_adid=679035490279&g_adtype=pla&g_campaign=UK+-+Shopping+-+Whisky&g_campaignid=20732643038&g_ifcreative=&g_ifproduct=product&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=pla-2245049369415&g_merchantid=2444294&g_network=g&g_partition=2245049369415&g_productchannel=online&g_productid=70803&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAxaCvBhBaEiwAvsLmWGA0pc5DnhQnDmmdX6GG3HQ2InjDy7UHtGt2xB5aAmFGcqjOG4nGQhoC7rAQAvD_BwE
Turns out I was wrong. This is a HP bottling. Don't purchase it under the basis of it being Scapa. Apologies.
Not a fan of Scapa . Bought the Glansa & Skirren at the same time, having never tasted beforehand.
Couldn’t bring myself to chuck it down the sink at the price I paid. Not much of a cocktail drinker, but became one until the bottles were empty. Once burned …….
This is sad news regarding the liquid. I feel like Scapa is being abused, and we have to save it, but my bank account can't stretch to buy it.
I've got an The Ultimate Unnamed Orkney 2006, (also HP iirc 16 or 17 yo at 46%) that's a lot like you describe here. It's got an extremely light nose and taste with the slightest hint of peat (less even than Scapa Glansa, which I like a lot as a "breakfast Whisky".
There's a little dry tannic in the back, but mostly just very empty with a bit of sweet floral citrus going on. A huge letdown for that price and age. Idk what Highland Park's been doing but they do something very wrong in my opinion. This is borderline boring.
I can't say you're far from wrong. Given that it's HP, it's so odd, but it was only £46. A very 2D whisky with some big questions around it. There must have been huge batches of these style casks that were sold onto indie bottlers.
Interesting video my friend.
Thank you!
I've had a couple of Scale G&M bottles but I completely agree: where is Scapa.
They can't be selling all their liquid through the NAS bottlings, so are they stocking up reserves, are they selling barrels without the name attached/generic highland, or are they blending it?
I have never understood the price it demands when you do see it (in the US at least).
Looks as if it is still all going to Ballantines and Chivas, they're having some huge marketing behind them now, more than ever before.
Not so much of a rant as a well-informed opinion. Nice review as always.
Thank you, Mark.
Wow! That dog is noisy! What kind of dog is it?
She's a French Bull Dog/Pug. When she sleeps, we all get to know about it.