Scapa Scotch Whisky
Island Single Malt Whisky from Orkney
Scapa Whisky Distillery Information
Founded in 1885 by Macfarlane and Townsend
Location Island region, Orkney Islands
Water source Lingro Burn
Scapa Whisky Distilling Equipment
Copper domed Mash tun
1 Lomond pattern wash still 1 Conventional spirit still
Matured in American oak bourbon casks in on site traditional dunnage warehouses.
Scapa Whisky Distillery History
Located on the South-West of Kirkwall by the Lingro Burn. The distillery was founded in 1885 by Macfarlane and Townsend with John Townsend at the helm. John Townsend later continued alone and also became a director of Linkwood.
In1886, Scapa Distillery was visited by Alfred Barnard who praised the distillery for its advanced design for the time. His report talked of steam-heated stills with anti-collapse valves, devices that are now universally fitted to stills.
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 acquired by Bloch Brothers Ltd (John & Sir Maurice), also the owner of Glen Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown and Glengyle. 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 then in 2004 was refurbished and went back into production
Scapa Distillery Bottlings
Scapa 14 Year Old
Scapa Older Distillery Bottlings
Scapa 10 Year Old
Scapa 12 Year Old
Scapa Whisky Independent Bottlings
Blackadder,
Cadenhead
Chieftain’s (Ian Macleod),
Duncan Taylor Collection,
Gordon & MacPhail
Provenance and Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing)
Duncan Taylor Collection,
SMWS
Un-Chill Filtered (Signatory).
Scapa Distillery,
St Ola,
Orkney,
KW15 1SE
Tel: +44 (0)1856 872071
No Visitor Facilities
Orkney Islands History Note
The islands of Orkney are steeped in history and are thought to have been inhabited since the 8th century BC and are host to a wealth of Neolithic sites including Skara Brae
The islands of Orkney formed part of the Norse Western Empire for over 700 years and were ruled by the Vikings from the 11th century providing a perfect base to launch attacks into Scotland and the eastern coast of England.
Orkney remained loyal to the Danes despite being leased to Scotland for an annual rent after Lord of Islay, Angus Mar, fought on the losing ‘Viking’ side at the Battle of Largs in 1262. Scotland failed to pay for the lease and by 1400 owed a huge sum to King Christian of Norway. However Christian wanting closer ties with Scotland arranged for the marriage of his daughter Margaret to King James III of Scotland, writing off the debt as part of a substantial dowry. After falling short with the rest of the dowry Christian also gave King James Orkney. (1468) From that day Orkney remains part of Scotland.
Historically, Orkney was also strong focal point during both World Wars where Scapa Flow was the principal base for the British naval fleet.
In November 1918 the German Fleet was interred in Scapa Flow after surrendering to the Allies, and was scuttled on 21st June 1919, by the skeleton crew left onboard. Shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, on 14th October 1939, a German U-boat broke through Scapa Flow’s defences and sank HMS Royal Oak
Scapa Distillery itself has many historical links with the Royal Navy
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