Laphroaig, Willem by Willem
Laphroaig has made a habit of doing things differently, and Willem by Willem certainly breaks with convention. Created in partnership with actor Willem Dafoe, this limited-edition single malt was aged in bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 53.7%, this is a bold expression even by Laphroaig's standards. Note that Dafoe didn't make this whisky. It was one of many samples Sarah Dowling (lead whisky maker) offered to him during a tasting session in Rome, and it spoke to him in a way others did not.
Nose
TCP, charred steak, chili sauce
Palate
Honey, dates, BBQ smoke
Finish
Dried fruits, butterscotch, bonfire smoke
Plenty of sherry richness on the nose, but a few swirls in the glass and that trademark TCP note – read: antiseptic – comes through strongly. That alone gives away the distillery. There's smoke and fire, charred steak and chili sauce, mixed with some deeply sweet notes of honey and dates. The palate delivers on all of it: the coastal smokiness is strong, with plenty of spice from the sherry cask and a gripping note close to quinine, before it evolves into sweetness – dried fruits, butterscotch candy.
Style
Details
Laphroaig, Willem by Willem
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