Scapa Distillery

Scapa Distillery, nestled on the serene Orkney Islands of Scotland, stands as a testament to the rich tradition of Scottish whisky craftsmanship. Established in 1885, Scapa has a storied history that mirrors the rugged beauty of its surroundings. Located near the town of Kirkwall, this distillery is renowned for its commitment to producing exceptional single malt Scotch whiskies.

Scapa Distillery is distinctive not only for its maritime location but also for its unique production methods. The distillery boasts a single pair of copper pot stills, a rarity in the industry, allowing for a meticulous and hands-on approach to crafting each batch of whisky. The copper pot stills contribute to the development of a smooth and refined spirit, capturing the essence of the Orcadian terroir.

One of the defining features of Scapa whiskies is their aging process, often taking place in a combination of American oak casks from Tennessee and Kentucky and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. This dual maturation imparts a complexity of flavors, balancing the sweet and fruity notes with a subtle hint of brine, characteristic of the coastal influence.

Visitors to Scapa Distillery are treated to a unique experience, surrounded by the captivating landscapes of Orkney. The distillery tour offers a glimpse into the artistry behind the production, from the mashing and fermentation processes to the carefully monitored maturation in the historic warehouses.

Whether you are a seasoned whisky connoisseur or a curious enthusiast, Scapa Distillery invites you to savor the fruits of its labor—a range of distinguished single malts that encapsulate the spirit of the Orkney Islands in every drop. With its commitment to tradition, craftsmanship, and the distinct Orcadian character, Scapa continues to be a beacon in the world of Scotch whisky, providing an authentic taste of Scotland’s liquid gold.

  • Owner

    Pernod Ricard

  • Status

    Operational

  • Country

    Scotland

  • Region

    Islands (Orkney)

  • Production type:

    Single Malt

  • Founded

    1885

  • Production yearly

    1.000.000 Liters

History

By the end of the 19th century there were three distilleries operational on Orkney: Highland Park, Stromness (both of which dated from the early part of the century) and, from 1885, Scapa. Any distillery built at this time was free to try and exploit the growing interest in blends. Scapa was no different. Indeed, it was built by a blender, Glasgow’s John Townsend. It was damaged by fire in 1919, but rebuilt. In 1936 it was bought by Bloch Bros. [see Glen Scotia, Glengyle] who ran it for close on two decades before selling up to Hiram Walker which through mergers ended up as Allied Distillers. In 1959 a Lomond still was installed which ran as intended until 1979.

Production ceased in 1994 with occasional runs being done by the crew from Highland Park. In 2004, however it was released as single malt and a major refurbishment of the distillery began. In 2005 it became part of the Pernod Ricard stable and the refurbishment was completed. The new owners redesigned the packaging of the single malt and upped the age from 14 years to 16.

In 2015 a visitor’s centre was opened and the introduction of a new, extended range was announced.

“Scapa is crafted by a small team of dedicated artisans and a Master Distiller, using traditional methods perfected over generations. One of the last remaining manually operated distilleries, manned 24 hours a day. Our crew work in successive shifts which means each shoulders the honour of delivering a consistently smooth, creamy sweet single malt on his own. Trust is a word they do not take lightly.”
Scapa distillery

Timeline of Scapa

1885
Scapa distillery is opened in Orkney by Macfarlane & Townsend
1919
The Distillery is sold to the Scapa Distillery Co, but is damage by fire in the same year
1934
Scapa Distillery CO. goes into liquidation and distilling ceases at the site
1936
Production resumes following the buy out by Bloch Brothers
1954
the business is sold to Canadian group Hiram Walker
1959
Hiram Walker rebuilds the distillery and installs a Lomond still
1987
Allied Lyons (later Allied Domecq) purchases Hiram Walker
1979
The Lomond still is decommissioned
1994
four more stills are added

Scapa distillery is mothballed, although occasional runs are completed by the nearby Highland Park team 

2004
A 2.1 million pound refurbishment project takes place: Scapa 14 year old is launched
2021
Refurbishment complete, Scapa becomes part of Pernod Ricard's portfolio after the group purchases Allied Domecq
2015
The distillery opens its first visitor's centre in April

Distillery Facts

Taste profile

Medium bodied

Medium sweetness, honey and fruity notes

Medium malty, nutty, spices

Medium maritiem notes

Core range 

At this point Scapa’s core range is: 

  • Scapa Glansa 
  • Scapa Skiren 

Distillery Tours

Come and experience the legendary Scapa Distillery, learn about our past and how our whisky is made from the milling process all the way through to the maturation.

Once you have gone through production you’ll head down a winding path to the Scapa Noust our new tasting room to taste three whiskies that show highlight the different whisky we make.

This experiences includes a visit to the warehouse, a visit of production, tasting in our tasting room – the Noust – and ends in the shop.

Only guests aged 18 years and over may take part in the experience.

DURATION:

About 1.5 hour

DRAMS

2 drams

COST

£25 per person
 

Every distillery produces its own unique tasting whisky and we’d like to invite you to try a number of different whiskies from our sister distilleries.

Come and learn our history and have a guided tasting of four whiskies within the Scapa Noust. Two of those whiskies will be picked from our own collection, while two will come from different distilleries owned by Chivas Brothers in Speyside.

This experiences includes a visit to the warehouse, a visit of production, tasting in our tasting room – the Noust – and ends in the shop.

Only guests aged 18 years and over may take part in the experience.

DURATION:

About 1.5 hours
 
DRAMS:
4

COST

£50 per person
 

Come and explore Scapa Distillery with a visit to one of our warehouses, learn about our founding before being taken on a tour of the production to see how we make our famous spirit.

Leaving the unique Lomond Still behind, you will head down to the warm safe haven that is the Scapa Noust where you will be lead through a tasting of four whiskies picked from our 2023 releases. These include our Distillery Exclusive 14 year old and our Vintage Edition 30 year old.

This experiences includes a visit to the warehouse, a visit of production, tasting in our tasting room – the Noust – and ends in the shop.

Only guests aged 18 years and over may take part in the experience.

DURATION:

About 2 hour
 
DRAMS:
4

COST

£100 per person
 

Visitor center 

OPENING TIMES

January – December

OPENING TIMES

Day Times
Monday 09:30 17:00
Tuesday 09:30 17:00
Wednesday 09:30 17:00
Thursday 09:30 17:00
Friday 09:30 17:00
Saturday ( summer)  09:30 17:00
Sunday (summer)  09:30  17:00

 

 

CONTACT DETAILS

Scapa Distillery
Kirkwall
Orkney
KW15 1SE
United Kingdom
Scapa social media links

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