Scapa Scotch Whisky

Scapa Scotch whisky distillery was founded in 1885 by Macfarlane and Townsend. John Townsend later continued alone, he also became a director of Linkwood distillery.

In 1919 Townsend was succeeded by the Scapa Distillery Company Ltd. However the company went into voluntary liquidation in 1934.

Production was resumed in 1936 when the distillery was bought by Bloch Brothers Ltd (John & Sir Maurice), also the owner of Glen Scotia and Glengyle Distilleries in Campbeltown. The brothers used Scapa in their blend of Ambassador.

Bloch Bros. sold Scapa in 1954 to Hiram Walker, which disposed of Glen Scotia to A. Gillies & Co. Ltd, and licensed Scapa to its subsidiary company Taylor & Ferguson Ltd.

1959 saw the rebuilding of Scapa where the wash/still was replaced by a Lomond still, a cylindrical pot still surmounted by a water jacket which could control the degree of reflux, an invention of one of Walker’s employees.

In 1994 the distillery was mothballed and 10 years later in 2004 was refurbished and went back into production.

Located near Kirkwall and Scapa Flow on the Island of Orkney, the distillery gets its water supply from the Lingro Burn.

Scapa Tasting Notes

Distillery Style

Nose : Hay, honey, malty.

Palate : Medium bodied. Oily, honey, fruit, barley,

  toffee and toast.

Finish : Long, grassy and slightly salty with a hint of peat.