First of all...this is an Islay whisky.....
Bessie Williamson , secretary to the famous Ian Hunter, was initiated by Ian into the recipe and barrel management of LAPHROAIG . In the 1940s, when sherry barrels were rare, Ian was the first to have former American 200-litre bourbon barrels made into larger hogshead barrels in order to mature his whisky. Bessie must have been extremely talented, because after Ian Hunter's death, LAPHROAIG was transferred to her.
This made Bessie the first woman in the industry to own a distillery. From 1954 to 1972, she successfully managed Lapgroaig in the spirit of the founder.
It is also known that only in very rare cases can a Laphroaig be called such by independent bottlers.
This is also the case with the renowned Berry Bros. & Rudd house on St. James's Road, which, in honour of Bessie (and clear provenance for the connoisseurs), calls "he who must not be named" Williamson.
We are lucky enough to have a few bottles of Williamson available at the moment, which...as it should be...was bottled at cask strength 62.3%. (Cask No. #05093)
Get your hands on these rare bottles... luckily here you go 🍀