Willem Dafoe has stepped up his involvement with iconic Islay distillery Laphroaig, unveiling a limited-edition single malt, Willem by Willem, crafted in collaboration with Sarah Dowling, Laphroaig’s Senior Whisky Maker.
Dafoe became a “Friend of Laphroaig” in 2025, a relationship which has since bloomed into a full blown creative collaboration. Working alongside Sarah Dowling, the distillery’s Senior Whisky Maker, Dafoe took part in a year-long process that sounds closer to method acting than conventional blending.
Rather than relying on technical tasting notes or distillation theory, Dafoe focused on instinct, selecting the whisky that made his “taste buds and curiosity come alive.” It’s an approach that might sound vague on paper, but in practice gave the project a distinct direction.
At an exclusive preview tasting attended by The Luxe Review, Dowling spoke candidly about the balancing act involved. The aim was to create something unmistakably Laphroaig, yet open-ended enough to invite personal interpretation.
Dowling describes a process shaped as much by conversation and memory as by cask samples, recalling a tasting session in Rome where flavour was discussed in terms of sensation, emotion, and lived experience.
“He talked about how his face felt when he tried certain drams, what certain tastes reminded him of and his journey through life. It really did spark a lot of creativity.”
Rather than approaching the task through technical tasting notes or distillation theory, Willem Dafoe focused on instinct…
Laphroaig Willem Dafoe tasting notes
The liquid itself is a 14-year-old single malt, finished in oloroso sherry casks for close to a year and bottled at a robust 52.7% ABV. It’s non-chill filtered and presented in its natural colour, drawing a deep, inviting hue from its time in wood.
On the nose, Willem steps away from the distillery’s more assertive peat signature. Instead, there’s a symphony of sweet tropical notes, think charred pineapple and barbecued banana. It’s an aromatic profile that feels bright, and sunny, one that I think would make this Scotch a fabulous summer serve, either neat or lengthened.
On the palate, the influence of the oloroso cask becomes more apparent. Layers of chocolate, coffee, honey and zesty orange peel unfold, carried on notably viscous legs. A gentle thread of mint and savoury bacon add to the fun.
It’s only on the finish that the whisky asserts its lineage, as peppery spice and ghostly smoke remind you this is, unmistakably, Laphroaig.
Willem by Willem is priced at £139 ($156). Friends of Laphroaig can access a pre-release ballot via the brand’s website until April 28. The whisky will be available in the UK exclusively through Selfridges from May 1, before rolling out to specialist whisky retailers in June.
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The Luxe Review 
Willem Dafoe has stepped up his involvement with iconic Islay distillery Laphroaig, unveiling a limited-edition single malt, Willem by Willem, crafted in collaboration with Sarah Dowling, Laphroaig’s Senior Whisky Maker.
Dafoe became a “Friend of Laphroaig” in 2025, a relationship which has since bloomed into a full blown creative collaboration. Working alongside Sarah Dowling, the distillery’s Senior Whisky Maker, Dafoe took part in a year-long process that sounds closer to method acting than conventional blending.
Rather than relying on technical tasting notes or distillation theory, Dafoe focused on instinct, selecting the whisky that made his “taste buds and curiosity come alive.” It’s an approach that might sound vague on paper, but in practice gave the project a distinct direction.
At an exclusive preview tasting attended by The Luxe Review, Dowling spoke candidly about the balancing act involved. The aim was to create something unmistakably Laphroaig, yet open-ended enough to invite personal interpretation.
Dowling describes a process shaped as much by conversation and memory as by cask samples, recalling a tasting session in Rome where flavour was discussed in terms of sensation, emotion, and lived experience.
“He talked about how his face felt when he tried certain drams, what certain tastes reminded him of and his journey through life. It really did spark a lot of creativity.”
Laphroaig Willem Dafoe tasting notes
The liquid itself is a 14-year-old single malt, finished in oloroso sherry casks for close to a year and bottled at a robust 52.7% ABV. It’s non-chill filtered and presented in its natural colour, drawing a deep, inviting hue from its time in wood.
On the nose, Willem steps away from the distillery’s more assertive peat signature. Instead, there’s a symphony of sweet tropical notes, think charred pineapple and barbecued banana. It’s an aromatic profile that feels bright, and sunny, one that I think would make this Scotch a fabulous summer serve, either neat or lengthened.
On the palate, the influence of the oloroso cask becomes more apparent. Layers of chocolate, coffee, honey and zesty orange peel unfold, carried on notably viscous legs. A gentle thread of mint and savoury bacon add to the fun.
It’s only on the finish that the whisky asserts its lineage, as peppery spice and ghostly smoke remind you this is, unmistakably, Laphroaig.
Willem by Willem is priced at £139 ($156). Friends of Laphroaig can access a pre-release ballot via the brand’s website until April 28. The whisky will be available in the UK exclusively through Selfridges from May 1, before rolling out to specialist whisky retailers in June.
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