Williamson 2010 The Whisky Jury 12 yo

 

 

 

52,3°

Distillery : Laphroaig - Islay 

1st Fill Oloroso Sherry Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By The Whisky Jury 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 43 ppm

 

 

 

The Whisky Jury is a Belgian trading company founded in 2019. This bottling is their 56th, and it's their fourth Laphroaig. But they never call it by the name of the distillery. It is named either Bessie or Williamson, after Bessie Williamson, who was the first womain to lead a Scottish distillery. Employed by Laphroaig for a summer job in 1934, she began to replace Ian Hunter when he had a stroke in 1938, and inherited from him when he died in 1954. So she was the owner of the place until she retired in 1972. To honour her, it is now a tradition to name such young Laphroaig from her name. But this one is 12 years old so it's not so young, and it was aged in a 1st fill Oloroso Cask, so it must be a valuable one. The problem is that it is written on the bottle Blended Malt. But is it really Blended? On the seal upon the cork, it is also written One Single Cask. So which one is true? Moreover, the number of the cask is mentioned, only 195 bottles were put on for sale. So I assume it's definitely a Single Cask, but maype it was teaspooned, that means a very short amount of whisky from another distillery was added in the cask. It doesn"t change anything to the taste, but it allows to lower the price of the bottle and avoid a few taxes. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

From the moment you lay your nose on it, fuel oil, diesel oil, motor oil. An old garage filled with car wrecks. Coal, lignite, soot. With that, rusty nails, pork fat, fried bacon. A few red fruits behind, damson, woody blackcurrant. Then comes the medicinal touch, bandages, disinfectant, ether. Finally, it all balances out. Sherry finds its way, walnuts and molasses, apricots and quinces, Muscat grapes. It becomes sweet, cherry pie, pear compote, chocolate coulis. Liquorice and melting caramel. On the palate, first delicacy, salted butter caramel cream, soft apple, then peat, thick but not intrusive, tar, rubber, TCP, camphor, chloroform, it feels like an abandoned hospital. Nougat. Discreet spices, paprika, nutmeg. candied figs, dates. Long, earthy and smoky finish, blackberries and blueberries, in handfuls. Liquid honey. Coffee grounds. Mocha.

 

In Short, 

Excellent Laphroaig with a perfect mix of Sherry and medicinal oily peaty notes. The balance is overwhelming, and the fragrances are as deep as they are varied. I would run onto this bottle if I could find it, but unfortunately it seems that it is totally sold out, I can understand why. Besides, the price was right when it came out, so this Whisky Jury is definitely to be followed. 

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

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