Williamson 2014
Style: Single Cask
Cask: #06004
Year of distillation: 2014
Bottled: 2021
Age: 6
Region: Islay
Cask Type: Barrel
No. of bottles: 254
ABV: 65.3%
Release: Summer 2021
Doug McIvor
“Bessie Williamson was the legendary manager at Laphroaig from the 1940’s until the early 1970’s and spokesperson for the Scotch Whisky Association in the USA where she toured during the 1960’s to promote the amber dew. Her early vision was such that she predicted the surge in popularity of single malts, particularly strongly peated gems such as this fine Islay which we finished in a Guyanan rum barrel.”
Tasting Notes
This Williamson Islay whisky was re-racked into an ex-Guyana rum barrel for 12 months. No matter how powerful the wood, nothing tempers the aggressive peat smoke that leaps out of this glass. A little time, however, shows a more complex picture of wine gums, ash and treacle, with a touch of camphor oil. The palate is exceptionally powerful, the high alcohol content integrating nicely with fierce smoke, and some high ester fruity notes appearing from the rum. A pleasingly idiosyncratic whisky; if you have the opportunity and stamina, it is best paired with the Guyana rum.
Distillery
The small Hebridean island of Islay is famous for heavily peat-smoke flavoured malt whiskies. Beyond the obvious peatiness, each Islay whisky offers its own signature. This classic expression uses the “trade name” Williamson and hails from the island’s south coast.
