Scapa Glansa

[William]

Chivas Brothers has announced a new addition to its Scapa distillery core range, the Scapa Glansa, what makes this interesting is they are hailing Scapa Glansa as the first peated single malt whisky from the Orkney distillery but I have to say in my eyes a peated cask finish doesn't make a whisky a peated single malt.

More info here:
http://www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/scapaglansa.htm
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There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

[Gregor]

I agree a peated cask finish and a peated single malt are 2 different things.

[Whisky Dog]

yes a peated cask finish doesn't make it a peated single malt, could still be an interesting whisky. It will be young I would guess, given the use of 1st fill American oak which seems the popular choice of oak these days to cover up the lack of maturity.

Could still be a good whisky but it isn't a peated single malt

[Brummie]

A peated cask doesn't make it a peated whisky, a little misleading description I think, as you say Whisky Dog this could still be good.

William it is surprising that Scapa has never dug up some Orkney peat and done a peated run given the popularity of its neighbour Highland Park.

[ziggsteruk]

I'm sure I'll end up buying a bottle because I'm a Scapa fan but I really wish they'd spend a bit more time thinking of better names. 'Skiren' sounded like the name of a sea bird that would steal your chips and crap on your head for good measure. 'Glansa' sounds like Glaswegian slang for someone with glandular fever coming from "sorry boss, I can't make it to work today because my glansa giving me grief!" I'm wondering what Scapa's next release will be called. Perhaps named after the Orkney island called Flotta (that bit of cork you get in your drink) or the westerly area called Twatt. Names are important for marketing and I don't think Scapa are giving this enough thought.

[Alexppp]

[William]

I didn't mention it in my piece about the new whisky, but Chivas Brothers tell me that the name Scapa "Glansa" is derived from the Old Norse for shining storm-laden skies, and is a celebration of the dramatic contrast between the sanctuary of the distillery’s historic location on Scapa Flow and the stormy seas and huge skies that surround it.

I did ask some questions about the new Scapa Glansa and got this reply:

[Bookie]

I wonder what the heavily peated stuff was which they emptied from the casks, and what did they do with it? I doubt it was Scapa but they must have an on going source of these peated casks as Glansa is a core range whisky. I will probably give it a go but meanwhile if anyone tastes it let us know what you think.

[Forbes]

Not sure if Chivas Brothers have any distillery's which turns out heavily peated whisky, at least none come to mind, so I couldnt make a guess as to what heavily peated whisky may have previously been in the casks before they filled them will Scapa.

[JKD]

It is a pity they haven't done a peated batch of single malt but I am sure I will give this peated cask finish a go at some point.

[James T]

I don't mind the names and stories behind them, yes they are for marketing but as long as they are up front about what I can expect to find in the bottle and I am not paying an excessive amount for it I don't mind.

I still haven't given the Skiren a go, but the Glansa does sound a little appealing to me

[unblended]

for me the old 14 year old was pretty good shame they changed to the 16 year not as good
does it seem to me the higher up in Scotland the more norse names come out
especially highland park
as every one has said its a finish nothing else more pr gone wrong
gets real whisky industry