Willem Dafoe Stars In Laphroaig’s Witty Short Film, ‘The Taste’

Laphroaig, one of the world’s most distinctive single malts, has enlisted Willem Dafoe to front the latest installment of its “Unphorgettable” campaign series, a cinematic short film titled The Taste.

Established over 200 years ago in Islay — a small Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides — the brand has built a long-standing legacy for doing things differently. From taste to elaborate acts of community service.

Celebrated for its progressive outlook, by the 1950s, Laphroaig was one of the only woman-owned distilleries in the world. Led by Bessie Williamson, also known as the First Lady of Scotch, she reimagined the malting floor of the distillery to host after-dark movie screenings for local islanders in the remote location.

While history shows it’s no stranger to film, this latest partnership sees the brand embrace the industry like never before.

Shot by iconic director Tim Pope, The Taste finds synergy between Dafoe and the brand’s unique characters and stories. The visuals take place in a pared-back set that brings to life the Hollywood actor’s search to define the single malt’s taste notes in his distinct style, as well as reads some of the other views submitted by the brand’s community – Friends of Laphroaig.

As well as referencing his very own alpacas, the video also showcases ambient clips of the brand’s Islay home and the process behind crafting the whisky, all while cutting to a continuously moving conveyor belt of items that personify the descriptors recited by Dafoe.

Beyond the short film, Laphroaig partnered with The Barley Mow pub in London to rename it The Barley Dafoe in celebration of the launch last week. Elsewhere, the collaboration is set to extend well into the new year with the launch of a limited-edition product that merges both of their heritages.

Hypebeast sat down with Dafoe to discuss the new partnership and how this differs from the blockbusters he’s headlined.

Hypebeast: How did your partnership with Laphroaig come about?

Dafoe: They approached me with some fun ideas for a short film ad to be shot with iconic video director Tim Pope, and the partnership grew from there.

What drew you to the brand? And how does its history align with your values?

I was familiar with Laphroaig, and when they contacted me, they were very thoughtful in their approach and educated me about how they make their whisky. I admired their history, their traditions, and their care, pride, and passion.

How do you feel about having an iconic London pub change its name to honor you?

For an American-born guy of teetotaler parents, pub culture is interesting to me as a social meeting place. I am in London working now and I love the chatter and energy that comes from crowds overflowing on the street from pubs. So to have “my pub” for a day tickles me.

Scotch whisky is created through an intricate process. How does this compare to your craft?

I don’t want to force comparisons. I love the work I do, and clearly they do as well. And to do work with a hunger to be challenged to elevate what you do is something I respond to when I see it in other people.

You’ve worked on countless blockbuster movies. Tell us a bit about the new The Taste short film and the concept behind it.

The creative team took some elements broadly from my life and from Islay to flavor the film. They had a central idea that was amusing, that plays with the inability to define the taste of the whisky. A sort of poetic parody of pretentious expert tasters’ language. Tim Pope was fun to work with — insistent, but also loose and energetic. They had wonderful ideas, and then we played around to custom-fit them on the day.

What makes this visually different from what you’ve done before?

It’s quite a stark environment — very much an empty white walled studio with just me, an alpaca, and objects telling the story. Essential, simple, maybe a little bizarre. The artiness is cut with a sense of humor.

What’s your one stand-out moment from the filming of The Taste?

I loved putting on coveralls and painting. A bow to the beautiful LAPHROAIG signage on the side of the historic distillery.

Disclaimer: We discourage irresponsible and/or underage drinking. Please drink responsibly and legally.