Islay distillery Laphroaig has teamed up with acclaimed actor Willem Dafoe to unveil a striking new limited-edition release: ‘Willem by Willem’, a 14-year-old single malt designed to challenge expectations and celebrate individuality in whisky tasting.
Known for its intensely peated, unmistakably smoky character, Laphroaig has long stood apart in the world of Scotch whisky. This latest release continues that tradition, bringing together cinematic creativity and whisky craftsmanship in a collaboration that blurs the line between flavour and interpretation.
Fans of whisky culture can explore more stories like this in our dedicated section on food and drink at Verge Magazine.
How ‘Willem by Willem’ was chosen
Dafoe became a “Friend of Laphroaig” in September, marking the beginning of his journey into the distillery’s world of bold flavour and peat smoke. Working alongside Laphroaig’s Senior Whisky Maker Sarah Dowling, he helped select the final spirit from a curated range.
Rather than focusing on technical tasting notes, Dafoe approached the process from an instinctive perspective—choosing the whisky that most strongly sparked his curiosity.
As Dafoe explains:
“I made my final choice based on the whisky that evoked the most curiosity about its taste – something I still can’t put my finger on, but that’s half the fun.”
Dowling echoed this sentiment, highlighting the importance of personal interpretation in whisky appreciation:
“Our experience with whisky is so personal…The whisky speaks for itself, and I look forward to hearing what it is saying to people around the world.”
A whisky designed for interpretation
At the heart of the release is a simple idea: no two people should experience it the same way.
The 14-year-old whisky has been finished in Oloroso casks and bottled at 53.7% ABV, delivering a rich, complex profile that remains unmistakably Laphroaig. However, rather than prescribing tasting notes, the brand is encouraging drinkers to define the experience for themselves.
To bring this philosophy to life, Laphroaig is inviting fans to interpret the whisky creatively—whether through poetry, illustration, photography or short film.
The most original submission will earn one winner the opportunity to appear alongside Willem Dafoe in a future Laphroaig short film, set to be produced later this year.
Enter the creative tasting notes competition
Whisky fans worldwide are being invited to take part in the campaign by submitting their own creative interpretations of ‘Willem by Willem’.
Entries can be submitted via the official website: https://www.laphroaig.com
Participants are also encouraged to follow updates via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laphroaig
This marks one of Laphroaig’s most interactive global campaigns to date, continuing its tradition of building a community around bold flavour and storytelling.
Release date, price, and where to buy
‘Willem by Willem’ will be released at an RSP of £139 (GBP) / $156 (USD).
Friends of Laphroaig in select markets can access a pre-release ballot on the official website until 28th April.
Following the ballot, availability will roll out as follows:
- 1st May (UK exclusive launch): Selfridges
https://www.selfridges.com - 1st June: Specialist retailers including The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, and Master of Malt
https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com
https://www.masterofmalt.com
Additional international releases will follow across the US, Germany, Japan, and Australia in the weeks and months ahead.
