Scapegrace Anthem

Scapegrace Anthem

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber, hints of copper
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Green apples, malted grains, white pepper, Leon zest, dark chocolate, hints of smoke. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, thickens, tingly, warm. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Green apples, pears, peat, soot, lemon zest, dark chocolate, malted grains, hints of smoke.
Finish: Long. Smoke, dark chocolate, soot, pears. 

Comments: 

Smoky and fruity, plenty of green fruit and a bitter note that keeps evolving. Moving from dark chocolate, to bitter lemon zest, to smoke and soot.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapegrace Vanguard

Scapegrace Vanguard

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber gold
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Molasses, papayas, peaches, apple juice, charcoal ash, smoke, hints of tobacco leaf. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, thickens, tingly, astringent. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Matches, peaches, molasses, smoke, charcoal ash, petrol exhaust, apple juice. 
Finish: Long. Black pepper, matches, vanilla, peaches, charcoal ash. 

Comments: 

Ashy and sulphurous, even a smidgen of tobacco. But underneath that there’s Kentucky of apples and tropical fruit. Quite an interesting dram, not had smoky Scapegrace before.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapegrace Timbre Limited Release IV

Scapegrace Timbre Limited Release IV

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago 
Light amber
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Damson jam, honeycomb, cream, brown paper, plums, haw flakes, hints of redcurrant jelly. 
Mouthfeel: Light body, tingly, cool, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Sweet. Malted grains, fresh baked bread, white pepper, damson jam, honeycomb, redcurrant jelly, hints of sea salt. 
Finish: Short. Damson jam, white pepper, fresh baked bread, haw flakes. 

Comments: 

Plummy and sweet, lots of damsons and redcurrants. There’s a fair bit of malt here, but it’s quite buried underneath the cask influence. Still, quite enjoyable.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapegrace Chorus Limited Release II

Scapegrace Chorus Limited Release II

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Black pepper, cocoa nibs, dunnage, brass polish, damson jam, coal gas. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, oily, syrupy, mouth coating. 
Tasting:  Bitter sweet. Sourdough bread, malted grains, vanilla, black pepper, damson jam, rye bread, hints of coal gas. 
Finish: Medium. Sourdough bread, black pepper, damson jam, cocoa nibs. 

Comments: 

Jammy and cereally, lots of sharp spicy rye wreaths a heavy, chewy whisky. There’s a sulphurous note that lingers a little on the tongue, and it’s more than a little funky. Interesting dram.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapegrace Ephemeral Cask RP9

Scapegrace Ephemeral Cask RP9

Official bottling
Single malt - Otago
Amber brown
57% ABV
Dram

Nose: Dark chocolate, brass polish, lemon zest, oatcakes, cooked rice, brown paper, raisins. With water, cooked rice, lemon zest, raisins, brass polish. 
Mouthfeel: Medium body, volatile, tingly, mouth coating.
Tasting:  Sweet. Raisins, damson jam, malted grains, oatcakes, dark chocolate, brown paper, black pepper, rye bread. With water, cooked rice, black pepper, raisins, lemon zest. 
Finish: Long. Raisins, honey, damson jam, black pepper, oatcakes. 

Comments: 

Quite feinty, despite the wine cask finish. Lots of peppery notes, which offset the sweet notes quite well. Water brings in some cereal. There’s a little bit of non-malt in this, if I’m any judge.

Verdict:

I like this.

Scapegrace Rise Limited Release I

Scapegrace Rise Limited Release I

Official bottling 
Single malt - Otago
Amber gold 
46% ABV
Dram

Nose: Leather, musk, vitamin C tablets, candied oranges, wet stones, kiwifruit, golden syrup. 
Mouthfeel: Heavy body, cool, astringent, expands. 
Tasting:  Salty sweet. Brown paper, vitamin C tablets, wet stones, candied oranges, black pepper, rubber bands, hints of rye bread. 
Finish: Long. Candied oranges, strawberry jam, black pepper, rubber bands. 

Comments: 

Quite minerally, even slightly chalky, with a big hit of sweet citrus. Interesting stuff, albeit a little bit unbalanced. It’s promising whisky, will keep an eye on this distillery.

Verdict:

I like this.