Single Cask Nation Williamson 2014 10yo Cask #191681 & Single Cask Nation Lochranza Isle of Arran 2015 9yo Cask #153118

Single Cask Nation Williamson 2014 10yo Cask #191681

Region: Islay

ABV: 56.4%

Price: £85.00

Distilled in September 2014 and matured for 10 years in a refill bourbon hogshead, this “Williamson” (aka Laphroaig) was bottled in winter 2024 by Single Cask Nation. A total of 281 bottles were released.

Nose

Surprisingly gentle for a Williamson. Buttered crumpets covered in salted butter lead the way, with hints of lemon, lime, and sourdough bread. Peat is present but very restrained for a Laphroaig of this age. We let this air for about 30 minutes, and it finally started to open up with notes of vanilla extract, bread dough, tar, and simple syrup. More peat appears with time, but still not at the levels you’d expect from a Laphroaig cask of this age.

Palate

Starts with barley sugar sweetness, almost grain like, before transitioning into notes of ash, iodine, and simple syrup. These are followed by a burst of citrus and a cracked black pepper and sweet chilli spice that carries through into the medium length finish. It’s unusual, at moments it evokes the feel of a cheap tequila with a bit of peat. The mouthfeel is slightly oily, but overall this doesn’t scream Laphroaig to us.

Nose (with water)

Water brings out a little more tropical sweetness in the form of mango juice along with a touch of whipped cream. There’s also a hint of charred wood, but still very little of the expected Islay punch. Overall, water hasn’t gone made that much difference to the nose.

Palate (with water)

Mouthfeel remains good. There’s more Icing sugar sweetness, a faint touch of dark chocolate, and some roasted coffee bitterness also appears. It’s also become spicier on the finish, but as a plus the peat shines a little more and it now feels more recognisable as a Laphroaig. 

Conclusion

This is a whisky best judged on its own terms rather than as a Laphroaig. The peat is far more restrained than expected, and it leans heavily into a sweeter profile. It’s not a bad dram by any means, but if you’re hoping for a big punchy Laphroaig, this isn’t it.

Score: 6.5/10

Value

At £85 for a 10 year old Laphroaig single cask, the price is fair, even if the dram isn’t what you might expect. 

Single Cask Nation Lochranza Isle of Arran 2015 9yo Cask #153118

Region: Highlands

ABV: 57.1%

Price: £60.00

Distilled in December 2015 and matured for nine years in a first-fill sherry hogshead, this Lochranza (formerly Arran) release was bottled in winter 2025. A total of 316 bottles were produced for Single Cask Nation.

Nose

Initially tight, but once it opens up the nose leans heavily into the sherry cask. Red cola, Tizer, strawberry laces, thyme, and a bit of fudge. There’s very little Arran distillery character present, it’s all sherry influence. A noticeable prickle of alcohol makes it a little less easy to nose than we’d like. Fairly one dimensional overall, but technically solid.

Palate

This starts quite dry, it’s almost like licking a sherry stave, before a wave of secondary sweetness rolls in. Cranberries, flat cherry cola, and chocolate coated coffee beans appear on the mid palate. Again, there’s none of the spirit character we associate with Arran. A hit of spicy cinnamon appears on the medium length finish, where some sweetness lingers alongside the spice.

Nose (with water)

Water doesn’t change this too much. It’s still very sherry forward. There’s more woodiness now and a gingerbread note appearing alongside some Blackcurrant Ribena. We’re also finding some of those pre dilution aromas feel slightly muted now, but again it hasn’t wildly changed.

Palate (with water)

A little more bitterness comes through on the reduced palate: roasted coffee beans, lime rind, and a touch of char. The sherry driven fruit notes are muted slightly, and there’s a bit more spice. It now leans more towards dry sherry, almost Fino like. Still not much of the spirit coming through.

Conclusion

A cask dominated dram. If you’re after a big bold sherry bomb, this delivers, but it’s hard to find the distillery’s character underneath it all. There’s nothing technically wrong here, it’s just a little uninspired. It drinks well but won’t linger in the memory.

Score: 7/10

Value

At £60 for a full sherry maturation and bottled at cask strength, it’s hard to grumble. It may not be the most complex dram out there, but it’s not priced badly for what it offers.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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