Willem Dafoe Stars In Short Film, ‘The Taste’
- tbHUNKYDORY
- Oct 1
- 2 min read
“Essential, simple, maybe a little bizarre,” the iconic actor tells Hypebeast about his new lead role.
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.
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