Willem Dafoe Debuts 14-Year-Old Scotch Whisky Alongside Laphroaig

(Photo: Laphroaig)

On Friday, four-time Academy Award nominee Willem Dafoe unveiled “Willem by Willem,” a limited-edition single malt scotch crafted in collaboration with the Laphroaig distillery. Much like the actor himself, the whisky is intended as a blank slate, forgoing tasting notes in favor of an “experience” that drinkers are encouraged to guess at in an interactive campaign.

Helmed by Dafoe and Laphroiag Senior Whisky Maker Sarah Dowling, the expression is described as a 14-year-old, Oloroso sherry cask-finished scotch bottled at 53.7% ABV. It will go on sale at a suggested retail price of $156. Ballots for purchase open Friday and Monday, and the release will start to come to U.S. shelves in mid-June.

“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,” Dafoe shared in a news release. “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.”

Paying homage to the film industry’s “no notes” phrase, the brand has omitted tasting notes from the product description — no mention of a floral aroma, smooth mouthfeel, smoky flavor or anything in between. Instead, Laphroaig is inviting fans to interpret the whisky’s taste through any creative medium of choice. The person who showcases the “boldest and most original character” (the press release lists a poem, a sketch and a short film as possible examples) will have the opportunity to star in a video campaign alongside Dafoe, slated to film later this year.

The contest will run from the second week of June through August 2. If you have a scotch sculpture or single-malt musical composition you’ve been meaning to share with the world, visit www.laphroaig.com to submit your creative tasting notes after trying the liquid.

“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,” Dowling added. “The whisky speaks for itself, and I look forward to hearing what it is saying to people around the world.”

The “Spider-Man” villain first joined forces with the distillery in September 2025, starring in a video in which he attempted to describe Laphroaig’s flavor with Dafoe-isms like “licking a walrus chomping on a seaweed cigar” and “kissing a mermaid in a rocky rowboat on a feisty sea.”