Scapa 12 Years Old 2002 17.39 Relax, take it easy (56.1%, SMWS, Refill Bourbon Barrel, 243 Bottles, 2015)

• ABV: 56.1%
• Age: 12 Years Old
• Bottling: Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Cask 17.39
• Category: Island single malt scotch whisky
• Cost: £74.10
• Origin: Scapa distillery
• Vintage: 2002

What they say

Official tasting notes:

Delicate and fragile to start with; freshly starched linen, ice cream cone cupcakes, scented potpourri of dried flowers and perfumed talcum powder followed by the opening of a fresh grow bag to add to the tomato vines in your green house. The taste reminded us of an Indian Chai hot chocolate, creamy and rich but at the same time a pleasant spicy cardamom and cinnamon kick. Easy on the water. Delicate like a porcelain doll on the nose, with floral notes, lychees as well as chocolate and raspberry macaroons. To drink; fresh like a Turkish ‘rose sherbet’ accompanied by pink Marc de Champagne truffles.

What I say

Distilled at Scapa distillery and matured for 12 years before bottling in 2015 by SMWS, this was their first Scapa bottling in quite some time and I have rarely had the opportunity to sample Scapa whisky. This was tried along with ice cream that had been made using the same whisky as part of the SMWS summer food pairings.

My tasting notes:

• Appearance: Light straw gold (6/20), medium droplet tears leave thick legs.
• Nose: Salt caramel, lemon citrus, fresh and floral, rose and vanilla.
• Taste: Light bodied and silky on the palate, floral roses, vanilla, white chocolate, cardamom kulfi, becomes drying like virgin/new oak wood.
• Finish: Medium-short, sweet then sour.

Overall

A pleasure to taste and a real treat to sample with the ice cream also made from it. Quite delicate and light and a touch floral. Presented that great taste combination of rose and vanilla white chocolate.

Score 87/100

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