点评:I went on the Scapa Distillery Orcadian tour at the start of June 2025. We were welcomed at the Visitor centre by Andy who has been with the distillery for many years. We started with the warehouse, breathing in the heady aromas from the maturing spirit in the barrels. Then on to the milling room, mash tanks and eventually the stills.
It was fascinating learning the history of the Scapa distillery and what makes their whisky special. The tour was unhurried, and we had plenty of time to ask questions. We even saw whisky drawn from a cask for us to taste later.
We finished in the Noust for our tasting. The Noust is a luxurious building with a roof like an upturned boat that has fabulous views over Scapa Flow. Inside we sat a boat shaped table and were given wooden boxes in which nestled the whisky glasses with our tasting drams.
We started with the neat still spirit which was surprisingly smooth. Then the whisky from the cask draw we had seen which had much more complex flavours. Andy said that the taste of the cask changes each time because it is exposed to air. We then tasted 19-year-old bottling from single cask, 21-year-old core range, 12-year-old sherry finish and finally 28-year-old vintage 1993. It is unusual to have the opportunity to taste fine whiskies like these – especially the £1500 vintage bottle.
The best thing about the tour was Andy’s enthusiasm for the craft of making whisky and his knowledge of the subject. He was an engaging guide, and it was obvious that he wanted us to go away with increased appreciation and enjoyment when we drink it.
The Scapa Distillery have gone out of their way to make this a truly memorable tour and it is certainly the best I have ever been on.
翻译:2025年6月初,我参加了斯卡帕酒厂(Scapa Distillery)的奥克尼之旅。在游客中心,我们受到了在酒厂工作多年的安迪(Andy)的热情接待。我们从仓库开始,呼吸着酒桶中陈酿的烈酒散发出的浓郁香气。然后,我们参观了研磨室、麦芽汁罐,最后是蒸馏器。
了解斯卡帕酒厂的历史以及他们威士忌的特别之处,真是令人着迷。参观过程轻松愉快,我们有足够的时间提问。我们甚至还看到了从酒桶中取出的威士忌,供我们稍后品尝。
最后,我们来到了诺斯特(Noust)进行品酒。诺斯特是一座豪华的建筑,屋顶像一艘倒置的船,可以俯瞰斯卡帕湾(Scapa Flow)的壮丽景色。我们坐在船形桌旁,工作人员为我们准备了木盒,里面放着威士忌酒杯和我们品尝的威士忌。
我们首先品尝的是纯蒸馏酒,口感出奇地顺滑。然后,我们品尝了之前见过的桶装威士忌,它的风味更加复杂。安迪说,由于桶暴露在空气中,每次陈酿的味道都会发生变化。之后,我们品尝了19年的单桶装威士忌、21年的核心系列威士忌、12年的雪莉酒余韵,以及最后28年的1993年份威士忌。有机会品尝这样的精品威士忌实属难得,尤其是那瓶售价1500英镑的年份威士忌。
这次旅行最棒的地方在于安迪对威士忌酿造工艺的热情和他对威士忌的了解。他是一位非常有魅力的导游,显然他希望我们在品尝威士忌时能带着更深的欣赏和享受离开。
斯卡帕酒厂不遗余力地让这次旅行真正令人难忘,这无疑是我经历过的最好的一次。