Scotch: Scapa Single Orkney Malt Scotch

This is a tasty Scotch!! But, before we get down to business some background is required. This Scotch comes from Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, the most northerly region of Scotland. My Scotch book tells me that the Scapa distillery shut down in 1993, but there seems to be some discrepancies. Anyway, I've got a bottle. From the box, bottle, and shelf at the BC liquor store, I find it hard to believe that this is some kind of independent bottling. Maybe I just misunderstood the Scotch book, but this seems to be a readily available Whisky.

This scotch is a dark yellow gold. It smells of honey and sweet salt sea air. It has a smooth body, and tastes of honey, oak and heather. There is a definite sweetness to this scotch. The finish is warm and comforting.

I don't know what to do with this Scotch. It can be, at once, sweet and refreshing and warming. It certainly does not have that tough earthen flavour of Laphroaig. It is definitely a drinking Scotch and versatile enough to be both refreshing and comforting for either warm or cold nights.

This is an excellent, tasty Scotch!!

Stats:

Name:Scapa
Region: Orkney Island
Aged: 12 Years
Alcohol: 40%

Rating:

On the official Chris' Choice rating scale, Scapa 12 yr Old Single Orkney Malt rates a:

+2

Movie Review: 15 Minutes

On the advice of Mr T.J. Button, Esq I have discovered an excellent film. I certainly would not have picked out this movie if it wasn't for his recommendation. After watching 3000 Miles from Graceland on Tim's advice (a one star movie and not worth the expenditure of my reviewing energy) he has redeemed himself.

The story concerns two East-European men who come to America to pick up some money. They end up with a video camera and going on a bit of a crime spree of murder and arson. Enter one celebrity NYPD detective and a fire department arson investigator (a fireman with a gun). Both have something to prove. Enter the news media and in particular a tabloid news program that likes reality TV and has a relationship with the cop.

Our two criminals have been saturated by American talk shows and tabloid news programs. They believe that they can get away with their crime spree by insanity. I don't really want to get into much detail of the plot. Suffice to say that these criminals are at once insane and completely rational. This is the beauty of the film. The premises on which the criminals reason is based are so faulty that they appear insane. Unfortunately, you cannot really blame these two guys. The talk shows and trash journalism that make up their idea of America, was given to them by Americans. It is difficult to fault them for having the twisted view that they have.

On the other side of the coin are the cops. Like all copps and robbers movies, one cop is a hardened veteran the other is naive and idealistic. Unlike all of the other movies of this ilk, 15 Minutes does not look at good cop, bad cop with respect to procedure. The veteran is a veteran television star. He knows how to do things right in front of a camera. The naive idealist doesn't think that such things are important. This whole aspect is just as interesting as the criminal side. Both sides are insightful, well done.

The movie sticks to the genre of action detective films. It does not really on irony or satire to make its point like Wag the Dog or Bob Roberts. Don't get me wrong the whole movie is ironic, but this is not a comedy. It is an action movie. There are some minor problems with the film. The fresh approach and unique vision of the film well make up for these small problems. This is a very good movie.

On the official Chris' Choice scale 15 Minutes gets four stars.

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