Scapa Skiren

Nose: Smell the roar of the sea. 

Palate: Brine thrashing through what appears to be sweet peat, but I feel is pears.

After: As the waves of sweet brine recede, you wallow in the mists of remarkable phenolic subtlety.

5th July 2020

Fresh and clear. Among my favourites, but slightly overpriced. I enjoyed the visit at the distillery.

23rd April 2020

I like it. Wanted to try something total different for once. Should have done it sooner.

14th December 2019

Nice nose. Honeyed, floral, a tough of heather. In the mouth, same flavor profile, a bit of slice, fleetibg smoke and minerality that gets accentuated with water. Medium finish. Problem is that this is thin, no real mouthfeel, and no real complexity. Okay, decent stuff, but just about. I'll give it 2.5 stars

22nd September 2019

Got a nice nose on this. Got the honey and apple but doesn’t give you the fizzle you get with others if you stick your nose in too close. That was a plus at first until you taste it. That lack of nasal fizzle should have told me that this was weak and thin! Too watery and to bland. The taste is honey with a bit of spice. A slight cream creeps in but lasts all of 3 seconds before....nothing. No real finish, no aftertaste. Just watery disappointment. Much better whiskies for the price, even at £30.

4th June 2019

Thin, not one to revisit & still overpriced with £10 off at £33. Liked their 12 year old when they used to make it.

26th May 2019

Good one

3rd April 2019

Orcadian pearl.

28th March 2019

I like it and would buy it again

13th December 2018

Sink, into a comfortable chair and savour the warmth, the honeyed oats, the mellow sunlight and richness of this delicious malt. It is of course a matter of taste and Scapa Skiren is light, subtle and classy.
Divine.

6th November 2018

I am very disappointed with this whisky. Nosing is perfect reminds me of Old Pulteney 12 years. Taste is too thin and watery with developing harshness almost similar to 3 years old blends. Finish is unpleasant and bitter. Overall it is very overpriced NAS whisky and one of the worst single malts I have ever tasted. Sorry Scapa.

6th August 2018

Think the mix of reviews of Skiren just go to highlight how personal a thing taste is. This is a firm favourite for me and cannot imagine for a second how it would ‘make my stomach churn.’ Such dramatic reviews. If you’re thinking about and are not sideburns I’d recommend trying it first if you can and failing that reading the description. It tastes exactly like that. If that’s your thing, go for it. If not, stay away. For me though, it’s top draw

30th March 2018

Weak flavour with terrible aftertaste.

1st January 2018

a delightful whisky with honeyed undertones and a light oakiness. Not a whisky for those who like big and bold, but tasty and light and an excellent value whisky

15th December 2017

Balanced dram you can enjoy even on a budget. Excellent alternative for Auchentoshan as a light " late afternoon " dram

11th November 2017

Nose: Flowery, with a chemical note.
Body: Medium.
Color: Blonde
Flavors: Some salt, slight peat. I Don't really taste the oak. Slightly sweet.
Impression: Not mature and should perhaps be casked in a different oak. Higher priced than it should be, but there are worse scotches out there.

2nd October 2017

Big fan of this scapa skiren, absolutely love the floral and honey taste! Definitely one I would buy again

25th August 2017

Have always loved Scapa. From the 14, to the 16, I was looking forward to the Skiren. The floral and honey notes that define Scapa are present as a strong elderflower in the Skiren. I did not like it the first time I tried. But, to be fair, it was the fifth whisky in a club tasting. I tried it again during our annual Burns Night supper and it was superb. It needs the right accompaniment.

6th July 2017

Simple dram (including No Age Statement) can be delicious if crafted finely. The Japanese NAS has been impressive. This wasn't to be: Apple scent with impression of honey and tropical fruits on palate. However, the finishing is short to non-existent, even after letting it breathe. Its shortfall becomes less obvious when pairing with food. It gives me a feeling of just drinking alcohol... do it with a meal if you can.

4th June 2017

I still have a small stock of the 16 year old Scapa but would have to say this one suits my palate and will be my future choice

20th April 2017

The 16 year old was better. This not bad but I don't understand the change. I'm now looking for a new go-to scotch. Glenrothes and Glenkinchie have the inside track.

24th March 2017

Makes my stomach churn, I tried it twice one month apart and it just didn't sit well both times, maybe me, maybe the whisky but would never buy again. Not an enjoyable whisky, avoid.

21st March 2017

I cannot believe some of the poor reviews I've read for this whisky - it's one if the best I've tasted in 30 years of drinking malts.

2nd February 2017

A reasonably enjoyable drink but misses the flavoursome ness you expect from a Scapa . The sharp bitter after taste is tangible and not so pleasant ! (The 16 YO is discontinued ), However , interestingly , it does get better once you have moved into your 3 rd drink for the evening!

11th December 2016

and I am rounding up. Best Regards,

28th October 2016

I bought this bottle hoping it was Scapa 16 with a new label. Do not be fooled, it isn't even in the same league. It's is OK at best, and I "can't wait to finish the Bottle" so that I can recycle the glass for better uses. Currently sipping it, about 2/3rds of the way through!

In conclusion: I don't know it all when it comes to Island Whisky, but when it comes to this bottle, it didn't float my boat, it sank it, too the depths of the Scapa Flow. Long live Scapa 16. Best Regards,

28th October 2016

I find it difficult to comprehend why this whiskey has had some poor reviews!
Obviously it's not as good as the 16 year old. If they want the 16 year old then buy the 16 year old! This is a lovely whisky and one I will buy again. I can't afford the 16 year old regularly but I can afford this one.

21st September 2016

I have sampled nearly 200 single malts and I LOVE the Scapa 16...one of the best values around. The Skiren at nearly the same price is to be avoided. The overriding profile is that of immature whiskey. Based upon that effort I will not be purchasing any future NAS Scapa.

14th September 2016

Scapa is a lovely distillery and this is a fine whisky. Just right for my palate, but can appreciate that those who prefer a more complex whisky may be disappointed.

10th September 2016

What can I say except exceptional, perfect nose, great palate and wonderful honey finish. Up there with the best.

6th July 2016

Don't know if anyone else has noticed but the 16 year old Scapa is pretty hard to come by at the moment. I'm hoping this is an interim measure until more of the great stuff becomes available, better single malts can be bought at this price but if this is funding the return of the 16 then I shall drink I like water.

23rd June 2016

I had never heard of Scapa, I am a fan of Highland Park, so when browsing in local whisky shop thought I'd give it a go. Light, sweet and citrus nose. Palate drifts towards toasted oats with a sharp finish. Having had my first few sips I read the reviews and so strongly disagreed thought I should write this. I

19th June 2016

Didn't like it and mad about how it was represented. Loved Scapa 14, never will buy another Scapa

18th April 2016

Forgot to add in my star rating for my review above;

19th March 2016

Firstly I don't normally slate whiskys just beacuse I don't like them . But this one of the worst I have every tried I'm sorry to say. So I feel obliged to warn off perspective buyers from being drawn in by the well marketed and presented label / bottle.

I agree with other reviewers about lack of balance, and some efforts of the heather honey trying to break through.

By way of background; I have tried hundreds of different malts. I think nothing or spending £100+ on a bottle but equally I still try out aldis own offering too. so not a whisky snob before u draw that conclusion.

I actually cannot drink this stuff, a first for me and whisky! I have tried on 2 different occasions to drink it, in case my palet was unduly influence prior to initial sampling. Same result both times!

it's too bitter (slight initial chemical taste?) too mellow and too floral for me. I enjoy almost all malt regions, with the exception of a few lowland distillers. The closes thing I can marry this taste wise to is 10y glenkinchie, and that's being unfair to them!

Iusedto hear such good this about scapa of yesteryear, this is my first and probably last bottle from that distillery even despite the good reviews of their 16y variant. I Bought mine from large sainsburys on sale for £30, down from £40- should have guest why. At least it's not a a lot of cash- for this amount its worth a blind punt on the unknown. But Never again on scapa! One to avoid like the clap! Sorry scapa but first impressions ....

19th March 2016

Was excited to see this in the shop as a big fan of the 16. Nothing like the 16. I'm not against NAS in principle, very much like the Talisker variants, but this is a huge jump down in taste for not that much less coin. Shame.

11th March 2016

Young whisky isn't inevitably bad (Benromach 5, many Kilchomans etc are fine) and I accept that when demand so outstrips production capacity then it's not viable to maintain an entry level 10 or 12 year old. However, NAS is generally a deceit (though not Glenfarclas 105 and others) and a catchy name intended to disguise the sleight of hand in fact highlights it (Talisker Skye, Storm, Glenlivet Founders Reserve). Distillers, just be honest and tell us its age - there seems to be a growing number of punters who won't buy new NAS's on principle, good!

15th February 2016

I have always been a big fan of Scapa whether it be a distillery bottling or the fantastic G&Ms.
All of these have been a minimum of 10 year old and more recently 16.
Scapa Skiren is a NAS and it really shows. This whisky is a poor relation. The nose offers hope but the taste is immature and the finish is hard to define really.
If this is a new marketing ploy it has failed. Come on Scapa do what you do best PLEASE!

9th January 2016

Getting tired of the whisky industry's no age statement money grab. Another bottle I won't buy.

7th January 2016

Why is there no age statement. Far too many malts are not telling us. like this.

1st January 2016

A big fan of Scapa so decided to try this - the nose intrigues, the palate Delights and the finish is honey. A very nice addition to my collection of Scapa!

24th December 2015

Scents of vanilla and especially leather appear to prevail initially. This may be appealing to some folk but I'm not too keen on the leather scent as I find it rather harsh(but this is just personal preference). As for the taste, there is a commingle of various tastes, most of which are rather confusing. For example, one can identify tastes of heather, a bit of honey, wood, leather, apple, pear, citrus, etc.. All of which don't really bond together; instead of a harmony of tastes, there appears to be a 'cacophony' and not 'polyphony' of tastes. I really can't figure out the 'identity' of this one. I could have got something far better for this price-40£. This is the first and definitely the last time I purchase an undefined-year single malt. I have tried of few of them at social events and the common denominator is this 'cacophony' of tastes depriving these newfangled single malts from a specific and, above all, unique distinguishable identity. I'll keep the rating 3-stars (albeit tempted to rate this single malt 2-stars) because the finish is a bit better, with an appealing spicy(somewhat pepper-cinnamon)lasting.

28th October 2015