Actor Willem Dafoe has teamed up with Laphroaig to launch a 14-year-old single malt selected in collaboration with the distillery’s senior whisky maker Sarah Dowling.
Laphroaig has unveiled ‘Willem by Willem’, a limited edition 14-year-old Oloroso cask finished whisky, bottled at 53.7% ABV and priced at £139 in the UK and US$156 in the United States.
The Islay distillery said Dafoe selected the whisky alongside senior whisky maker Sarah Dowling after joining the brand as a Friend of Laphroaig in September last year.
Rather than focusing purely on technical tasting notes or production details, Dafoe chose the whisky that made his “Taste buds and curiosity come alive the most”, according to the brand.
Fans invited to interpret flavour creatively
In keeping with Laphroaig’s longstanding positioning around unconventional character and individuality, the launch is being accompanied by a creative competition encouraging consumers to interpret the whisky’s tasting notes through any artistic medium of their choosing.
Entrants are invited to submit poems, sketches or short films inspired by the whisky, with the winner earning the opportunity to appear alongside Dafoe in a future Laphroaig short film scheduled to be shot later this year.
Dafoe, known for his roles in Platoon, Spiderman and more recently Nosferatu, said: “It was a pleasure learning about each of the whiskies shortlisted to be ‘the one’. 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.
“For me, when I sip ‘Willem by Willem’ I experience…you tell me. For all who drink it, I hope the whisky will inspire discussion.” A tagline which bears a striking resemblance to the tone of his character in Mr Bean’s Holiday.
Partner Content
Distillery seeks personal interpretation
Dowling described the collaboration as an attempt to create a whisky that remains unmistakably Laphroaig while encouraging drinkers to form their own conclusions about its character.
She said: “Our experience with whisky is so personal, from how we drink it – whether neat, with water or in a cocktail – to the different opinions about its taste.
“It was important to Willem and me that we selected a rich and complex spirit, unmistakably Laphroaig, but which allowed people to interpret and enjoy it in their own way. The whisky speaks for itself, and I look forward to hearing what it is saying to people around the world.”
Rollout begins through Friends of Laphroaig
The whisky is initially being offered through a pre-release ballot for Friends of Laphroaig members in selected markets via the company website until 28 April.
General availability in the UK begins from 1 May, with launches in the US, Germany, Japan and Australia scheduled to follow over the coming months.
Dafoe isn’t the first actor to represent the storied whisky brand. In 2012, Scottish actor Brian Cox, known for his performances in Zodiac, Troy and Succession, starred in an advert which offers an amusing lesson on how to order said Scotch.
Celebrity partnerships remain central to drinks marketing
As previously reported by the drinks business, celebrity collaborations continued to play a prominent role across the drinks industry throughout 2025, with brands increasingly turning to high-profile figures to broaden cultural reach.
Among the most visible partnerships last year were Harrison Ford with Glenmorangie, Pharrell Williams with Moët & Chandon and Charles Leclerc with Chivas Regal.
Related news
Industry voices welcome end to US whisky tariffs
Trump lifts whisky tariffs after royal visit
Top 10 largest whisky-producing countries
