This special edition super premium 25 year old single malt has been created in commemoration of Bessie Williamson, the first woman in the 20th century to own and run a whisky distillery. It is bottled at 43% ABV and matured in refill American Oak hogsheads and refill barrels to allow Laphroaig's unique character to shine through.

Creating an expression that we felt would honour Bessie's lasting legacy at Laphroaig was never going to be an easy task. We wanted to create a liquid that would share her warmth, friendliness, individuality and strength. But this whisky also needed to say something about what Laphroaig is today. To speak of the success that she made it, a unique expression of Islay, the Laphroaig distillery and the people who work to create this amazing whisky.
This is why we chose our 25 year old expression. Casked at strength, 43% ABV, and matured in refill American Oak hogsheads and refill barrels. It has benefited from ageing, smoothing out over the years, soaking in the sweet, rich vanilla notes of the wood, breathing in the salt sea air in the dunnage warehouse, but still proudly flaunting the singular Laphroaig peatiness. This liquid is very much a Laphroaig in favour, but with a smoother, gentler character - like Bessie herself.

Our choice of refill American Oak hogsheads was important in creating the final expression. The bigger barrel has a larger internal surface area, so the liquid itself draws less of the flavours from the wood as it might in a quarter cask, for instance. This means that the liquid's individual character remains prevalent, despite its 25 year ageing. The hogshead still imparts its complex layers of flavour, acacia honey and sweet herbs and spices, and black pepper, but the overall effect is one of lingering warmth and the unmistakeable character of Islay; salty tar, dried algae and the earthy sweet peatiness Laphroaig is famous for.

This is Laphroaig at its most composed. Aged for 25 years in refill American oak, the peat softens into something almost herbal - tempered by salt, smoke, and sweet spices. Expect notes of honey, sea spray, and black pepper, with a finish that drifts between warmth and earthiness. A rare expression that trades youthful intensity for quiet depth, and a fitting tribute to one of whisky’s great custodians.