Ballantine’s 17 yo Scapa Signature Distillery Whisky

Today I look at the Ballantine’s 17 yo Scapa Signature Distillery blended Scotch whisky. I have often written about my love for Ballantine’s whisky.

Ballantine’s Finest was the first blended dram to earn a Divine rating. The highest rating on my rating scale. I try to extend my Ballantine’s whisky collection whenever I can. I also love the standard 17 year old whisky from Ballantine’s.

Then I saw that Chivas Brothers launched four Ballantine’s expressions under the new line, Signature Distillery Editions. Scapa (targeted at the Korean market), Glenburgie (release for travel retail), Miltonduff and Glentauchers.

According to Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s master blender:
“Ballantine’s 17 Year Old is a blend of more than 40 different malt and grain whiskies from all over Scotland, but Scapa, Glenburgie, Miltonduff and Glentauchers stand out as having played a monumental role in the blending process of our master blenders over the years.”

The Signature Distillery Editions are intended to highlight each of the blend’s major contributing distilleries’ character and influence.

The Ballantine’s 17 yo Scapa Signature Distillery Edition whisky has been created to enhance the influence of Scapa and to highlight this Orcadian part. Situated on the island of Orkney in the Northern Highlands, Scapa is not far from Highland Park.

John managed to find a bottle on his travels and brought it home. However, this blend has stood on my shelf for nearly a year, and I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity to taste it. Today turned out to be that opportunity.

Also Read: Glengoyne 17 yo whisky

Ballantine’s 17 yo Scapa Edition Whisky Review

ABV: 43%

COLOUR: Light golden.

NOSE: There is so much going on in the nose. It is a riot of ripe fruit, marshmallows, toffee, cherries and raisin pudding. In the background, there are faint hints of salt, seaweed and smoke. There is a wonderfully rich, complex, layered nose to this whisky.

PALATE: On the palate, there is sweetness, followed by loads of spice and oak. There is fruit sweetness balanced with toffee, smoke and warming spices. Even without water, this whisky is delicious and smooth. A huge mouthful. The addition of water further transforms this dram. It becomes rich and creamy and absolutely brilliant.

FINISH: Long and lingering, and build slowly. It ends in the perfect balance of sweetness and spice.

RATING: DIVINE

I fell in love with the flavour profile of the Ballantine’s brand. It has the perfect balance of rich, robust spicy sweetness; the flavour profile is for me, what whisky should taste like. There has been only one Ballantine’s that I have not rated Divine and that was the Ballantine’s 12 year old whisky.

The biggest problem with this Ballantine’s Scapa Edition? It is not available in South Africa, and it is sadly a limited release. All I want to do is sit back and pour another one. But I will be strong and save it for a special occasion.

I have also tried the Ballantine’s 30 year old whisky as well as Balantine’s Limited Edition, and you can see what I thought about it.

Also read: Johnnie Walker Platinum Label vs Gold Label whisky