Current Release: SCAPA 16 Year Old Official

I hadn't tried SCAPA since its model change. SCAPA SCAPA 16yo OB 40% The aroma is vibrant and strong, with green apple candy, fresh orange, vanilla, white flowers, a simple barley note in the background, slightly creamy. The palate is mellow with orange, light honey, simple barley, a touch of sweetness, and some oak bitterness but also depth. [Good/Very Good] The official standard of SCAPA 16 Year Old. It seems to have become slightly more refined compared to the previous earthy, rustic label. The aging period has also been extended from 14 to 16 years. The aroma is vibrant and floral, with a clear sense of the fruity and citrus notes common in recent bourbon cask-dominant malts, such as green apple candy and orange, along with vanilla. Upon tasting, the vibrancy of the aroma is less pronounced, and a more rustic barley note with citrus comes through. Overall, it gives the impression that both the label and the content have become slightly more refined compared to previous releases. It's unclear whether this change was abrupt immediately after the label update, but it's definitely different from my impression 2-3 years ago. There have been changes, but I don't think the quality has worsened. Recently, I've tried several current standard releases, and they all seem to share a similar nuance of vibrant notes from bourbon casks and slightly raw oak characteristics. Perhaps those barrels are the most stable to source and age quickly. Given the current high demand for whisky, barrels are also scarce, so standard bottles may be gradually shifting toward this direction. #SCAPA (SCAPA)