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.
One of the more intrigung new whiskies to launch this month is Cù Bòcan Creation #9. The product of American virgin oak and Manzanilla sherry casks, it’s a sweet and sour treat notable both for its flavour profile and affordability. But what’s the deal with Cù Bòcan and the distillery behind the label? It turns…
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Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
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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One of the more intrigung new whiskies to launch this month is Cù Bòcan Creation #9. The product of American virgin oak and Manzanilla sherry casks, it’s a sweet and sour treat notable both for its flavour profile and affordability. But what’s the deal with Cù Bòcan and the distillery behind the label? It turns…
Pusser’s Rum revives its original 1979 blend with limited edition Founder’s Reserve
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
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Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
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