Williamson 2010 Blended Malt 11yo 53.8% ABV Cask #889 (A.D.Rattray)

This whisky is part of the 67th Cask Collection from A.D.Rattray, independent whisky bottlers. It is from the isle of Islay, and was bottled on the 30.06.2022. The cask Type is a single Bourbon Barrel, the number of bottles from it is 223, and the cask Number is 899. The whisky is 11 Years Old, and was distilled on the 04.11.2010, it is presented at full cask Strength of 53.8% alc./vol, it is non chill filtered, and natural in colour.

Appearance

Very light gold in colour here, the swirl line on my Glencairn is medium thick and it beads up immediately. It drops slow medium thick legs. #thewhiskeychaps

Nose

Initially get lots of germoline, with an oiliness, and raspberries. Yes to sticky plasters, the peat is easily found, and that fruity sweetness persists along with them. #thewhiskeychaps

Tropical fruits too now, pink wafer biscuits? Cigar ash as @DavidHaldane suggested, but also still very sweet for me. #thewhiskeychaps

Palate

Medium thick mouthfeel, and I’m absolutely living the sweetness with the peat, they go so well together. Seared pineapple chunks, brown sauce, oxo cube? Cigar leaves, pink wafers again, liquorice torpedo sweets. #thewhiskeychaps

Vanilla sweetened espresso coffee, pontefract cakes, a tough of cough candy, bonfire and too. #thewhiskeychaps

Finish

Long side of medium for me in length, and the spices and peat start to take control at this point for me. Dark chocolate, black pepper, cinnamon, star anise, hickory smoked black coffee. #thewhiskeychaps

My thoughts

Williamson is what is classed in whisky circles as a “Tea spooned dram”, meaning the vast majority of it is from one distillery, with a drop of some other whisky in it. This means that the name of the distillery that the majority comes from doesn’t have to be disclosed. In this particular case it almost certainly Laphroaig.

I really enjoyed this offering, and as well as obviously being peated i’m finding Laphroaig one of the sweeter Islay peated single malts at the moment. The nose and palate are certainly full of aromas and flavours. Coming in at £117 it isn’t cheap, but you do get a lot for the money, sadly it is a little beyond my reach, but i would enjoy a bottle that’s for sure.