Williamson 6 Years Old 2010 Strictly Limited

By Barry Bradford on December 10, 2017 • ( Leave a comment )

Williamson 6 Years Old 2010 Strictly Limited (46%, Càrn Mòr, Refill Sherry Butt, 950 Bottles, 2017)

Category: Islay teaspooned malt scotch whisky
Origin: Laphroaig Distillery
Bottling: Morrison & Mackay, Càrn Mòr – Strictly Limited Collection
ABV: 46%
Cost: £38.96

What they say

An interesting release from the Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited range – a single cask bottling of 6 year old Williamson blended malt (which some of you may know is a teaspooned whisky – almost completely single malt from one distillery, with a minuscule drop of single malt from another distillery). This was drawn from a refill Sherry butt, producing 950 bottles.

What I say

Named after the famous female manager of Laphroaig Bessie Williamson, this teaspooned malt hails mostly (if not entirely!) from Laphroaig distillery though they claim to throw in a teaspoon of something else to prevent use of the distillery name once this is bottled.

A rather large refill sherry butt has been bottled here by Morrison & Mackay for their Càrn Mòr Strictly Limited range and it is just fabulous!

Thanks to Tom at Toms Whisky Reviews for sharing this one with us.

My tasting notes:

Appearance: Dull or oily straw gold (4/20) medium tears and long fine legs.
Nose: Campfire, with a touch of burning car tyres, smoked almonds, dried raisin, treacle, briny, bbq hotdogs, scallops – smoked, shellfish and sea spray.
Taste: Earthen and smoky like leaf mulch on an autumn bonfire, but also sweet and spiced, meaty, coffee grounds, nutty smoked almonds with a sprinkling of sea salt and even honey, malty peat-smoked barley, grist, peanut brittle, roasted cashews
Finish: Long, rubbery smoke subsides, sweet and salted nut and shellfish meat lingers ending in rubbery nut brittle (try saying that after a few!)

Overall

Delicious *Laphroaig* briny peat smoke and sweetened sherried maltiness at its finest. These Islay whiskies really do drink well young before the peat influence dissipates with over-maturation.