Review #630 - Single Cask Nation 'Williamson' (Laphroaig) 8 Year Single Cask

Written By Me, My Wife & Whisky

Many single malts from Scottish distilleries will not disclose the distillery of origin when bottled by an independent bottler. Sometimes, these are listed just by the region they came from, but other times, the distilleries will go by a 'trade name' - we have an example here, a Williamson 8 Year Old single cask from Single Cask Nation.

Single malt labeled as Williamson is actually Laphroaig - the name Williamson is a reference to their famed distillery manager and owner Bessie Williamson. She worked her way up from office staff to distillery manager, and when the owner (Ian Hunter) passed away in 1954, she gained a controlling interest in Laphroaig. Williamson was one of the first in the industry to see the growing desire for single malts as opposed to blends, and she ensured Laphroaig's success by positioning the brand for the American market.

This 8 year Laphroaig cask from SCN was aged in a refill ex-bourbon barrel; because of the cask type and the age, we should be getting a full-force, distillate-forward Laphroaig which will show the strong peaty side of their spirit. That will be helped by the strength - it's bottled at a hefty 57.8% ABV.

Single Cask Nation 'Williamson' (Laphroaig) 8 Year Single Cask

Scotland/Islay - Single Malt

Price: USD 110 (2025)

Age Statement: 8 Years

Strength: 57.8% ABV

Cask Makeup: Refill ex-bourbon barrel

Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; cask 191657, distilled November 2015, bottled May 2024; 250 bottles

Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time from a sample. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes

Nose: Lots of ashy peat; this isn't too sweet, instead leaning toward the spirity, coastal flavor profile. Lots of sea salt and brine, some cedar wood, and a very soft iodine note... then we get lemon tart dessert, mild vanilla cake, and a bright lime soda.

Palate: Strong peat and hot peppers, sweet pickled peppers, and charred wood. There is a bit of youthful spirit; white pepper and salt add to the sharp, mineral side. It has a medium thickness mouthfeel, with a soft oily texture.

Finish: Sweet lemonade and strong peat - there's a slightly medicinal side to this, but not as much as we've seen in some older distillate. It's a medium-long finish.

Final Note: This is a classic young Laphroaig - strong peat, a bit brash. There's definitely a youthful character to it, and we get lots of bright lemon and pickled pepper flavors; solid whisky, if a bit simple.

Value is okay; Laphroaig is never cheap in independently bottled form, but this is over $100 for an 8 year old single malt, which feels a bit steep. It's a tasty whisky, but some official bottlings like the 10 Year Cask Strength can be found for the same price or a bit cheaper, and they offer a little more complexity.

Our Average Rating: 7.0 / 10

In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.

Value Rating: 5.84

About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.

Me, My Wife & Whisky
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Review #629 - Single Malts of Scotland Bruichladdich 29 Year Single Cask - Spec's Selection