On April 4th 2023, Orkney’s Scapa Distillery is opening its new and intimate whisky tasting room, the Scapa Noust. The tasting room will offer uniquely immersive experiences for those looking to taste exceptional whisky in a spectacular location.

The Scapa Noust Tasting Room and experience 

The distinctive clifftop location overlooking the natural harbour of Scapa Flow makes the Scapa Noust a truly special location to taste whisky.

After a tour of the working distillery and warehouse, up to twelve guests can enjoy tastings of Scapa Single Malt whisky around a central hand-carved long table featuring ripples inspired by the sea, whilst seated under a statement ceiling, crafted in the style of a traditional fishing boat’s interior. Visitors will take in views through the floor to ceiling glass, looking out over Scapa Flow.

Inside the Scapa Noust, there are nautical design touches as a reminder of the islands’ history, including a traditional naval radio desk donated by an Orcadian, as well as a helmet which is over 100 years old and was used by the British navy up until the 1970s. 

Designed by Orcadian architect Mark Fresson, the tasting room celebrates the traditions and crafts of the Orkney islands. Cassie stone from across the island has been re-used and repurposed outside, using a technique hailing from Medieval times. There are also examples of locally crafted and rare Orcadian straw basket work inside.

Scapa Distillery Reserve Collection 

To celebrate this opening, Scapa is launching a new addition to its Distillery Reserve Collection, The Cask Finished Edition, Scapa 19-Year-Old Pedro Ximénez hogshead finish. There are just 440 bottles of this rich and spicy whisky which will be available exclusively at Scapa Distillery and on the distillery website, priced at £185. 

Jacques-Henri Brive, Head of Brand Experience and Advocacy at Chivas Brothers commented:

“We are thrilled to open the doors of the new Scapa Noust tasting destination at our Scapa Distillery. The team are so proud to have brought this vision to life, designing a space with a modern and fresh interior, whilst simultaneously honouring the rich traditions of Orkney that make Scapa whisky what it is.” 

“Orkney is a special place, perfect for those wanting to absorb rich local history and culture and experience the wild beauty of the Orcadian archipelagos. The stunning Scapa Noust offers an incomparable experience for whisky fans and adventure seekers alike”.

About Scapa

Scapa Distillery is situated on the shore of Scapa Flow, a natural harbour and one of Britain’s most historic stretches of water. One of the last remaining manually operated distilleries, Scapa Distillery is manned 24 hours a day by a team of dedicated artisans using traditional methods perfected over generations. Tasting experiences at the Scapa Noust start from £40 per person.

Scapa Distillery visitor opening times 

• January – March: Thursday and Friday, 10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00. For visit requests for Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, please email the distillery at scapa.admin@pernod-ricard.com 
• April – December: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 – 12:00 and 13:00 – 17:00

The Scapa Noust tasting room is open to the public from 4th April 2023. With a new direct connection from London City Airport to Orkney launching this summer, it is now even easier to discover all that Orkney has to offer. To learn more, please visit Scapa Distillery (maltwhiskydistilleries.com) or contact Visitor Centre Supervisor Maria Letizia Bardelli at scapa.admin@pernod-ricard.com.