Glansa The Orcadian

Glansa takes its name from Old Norse meaning 'shining storm-laden skies'—a reference to Orkney's Viking heritage and the windswept character of these Northern Isles. Scapa distillery, founded in 1885 by Macfarlane & Townsend, produces only a handful of bottlings each year. Glansa marks the distillery's first venture into lightly peated whisky: the malt matures initially in ex-bourbon, then finishes in casks previously filled with smoky whisky, introducing peat without overwhelming the spirit.

The result is restrained and considered. The nose opens with soft peach and pineapple, vanilla, and a whisper of bonfire smoke. The palate reveals ripe pear and lemon peel alongside creamy caramel and toffee, the fruitiness remaining crisp throughout. The finish is clean and uncluttered—a whisky that rewards attention without demanding it.

Glansa is not a revelation, but it is deliberate: proof that Orkney single malts can venture beyond their unpeated tradition and still maintain their characteristic lightness. At cask strength (60% ABV), it carries sufficient weight to linger without becoming heavy.