A Williamson – *cough* Laphroaig *cough* – bottled by Berry Bros & Rudd for its Dutch importers Craft Spirits Company. Bottled at 60.9% (!) and finished for two years in an ex-Moscatel cask, it promises to be a beastly whisky.
This Williamson single cask will be launched next weekend during The Art of Drinks, which has quickly become one of my favourite festivals in the Netherlands. If you’re not planning on going already, I highly recommend you attend. And not just because you’ll be able to taste the Williamson 2013 11 Years from Berry Bros & Rudd.
The Art of Drinks features whisky, but is also about so much more. There is an array of spirits, cocktails, beer, wine. Hopefully I’ll see you there?

Williamson 2013 11 Years (60.9%, Berry Bros & Rudd for Craft Spirits, C#211)
Nose: Opening up on a mixture of barbecued beef, charcoal and grilled pineapple alongside coastal elements. Also pebbles, nori, and hints of leather. There’s a tinge of floral aromas too, then yellow plums, jammy apricots and almonds.
Taste: Thick, chewy mouthfeel. Hints of prosciutto, but lightly smoked, as well as a tinge of iodine. Also earthy peat, sultanas and golden syrup. A whisper of salted caramel and fudge as well.
Finish: Long. Sweet peat lingers, as do the coastal notes. Finally a hint of peanut skins.
Sample provided by Craft Spirits Company
Sign of the times? Australia’s leading online whisky retailer has been discounting every Laphroaig offering by 20% or more over the last few weeks, following similar discounts on the Lagavulin OBs earlier in the year. Ardbeg still has stocks of the 8 year-old released years ago.
The gin bubble has clearly burst. I suspect a whisky bubble pop is also in progress.