Distillery
Scapa
Scapa is a single malt distillery located in the Orkney Islands (Kirkwall), known for a single malt with honeyed and lightly peated notes, produced using a Lomond‑type still and matured mainly in ex‑bourbon American oak casks.
- Kirkwall · Orkney (Islands) · Scotland
- Since 1885
- 2 products
The story
Founded in 1885 on Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, Scapa has undergone various operational phases, including 20th‑century refurbishments and periods of limited production/mothballing before returning to full production in the 2000s. In recent decades the label has evolved to include a modern core range and a visitor experience open to the public.
Production philosophy
Artisanal, 'slow' production inspired by the island environment: emphasis on manual stages of the process, long fermentations and preserving the island character in the bottles.
Territory
Orkney Islands (Orkney), Scapa Flow, Mainland (near Kirkwall)
Production method
Use of barley malt as the base (single malt), local water (Orquil Springs), extended fermentations, distillation using a Lomond‑type still and maturation in warehouses in Orkney; a manually run process.
Distillation
Distillation with a Lomond‑type still; long fermentation; manual production and craft control of production stages.
Ageing
Maturation mainly in ex‑bourbon American oak casks stored in warehouses in Orkney; some expressions are finished in specific casks (e.g. casks that previously held peated whisky).
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Kirkwall
- Categories
- Scottish single malt
- Orkney whisky
- island whisky
- lightly peated / honeyed style whisky
- Raw materials
- barley malt
- water (Orquil Springs)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- ex‑bourbon American oak (first‑fill American oak)
- casks previously containing peated whisky (finish for Glansa)
- Representative products
- Whisky Scapa Skiren 70cl - Giftbox
- Whisky Scapa Glansa 70cl - Giftbox
What makes it distinctive
- Distillery located in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands; founded in 1885.
- Production on Lomond‑type stills (a historic characteristic of the distillery).
- Whisky style known for honeyed notes and low peat; long fermentations and a manual production process.
- Maturation predominantly in ex‑bourbon American oak casks.
- Modern core range includes Skiren (first‑fill American oak) and Glansa (finish in peated whisky casks).
- Belongs to the Chivas Brothers / Pernod Ricard group (commercial ownership).
- Visitor centre / tasting experience open to the public (visitor centre opened in the 2010s).