Williamson is the name used by independent bottlers to identify Laphroaig, one of Scotland's most iconic Islay distilleries. The connection to the Williamson name runs deep in Laphroaig's history: Bessie Williamson, born in 1910, joined the distillery in 1936 as a secretary, originally intending to stay just one summer. She never left. After World War II, she inherited the distillery and became the first — and for a long time the only — woman to own and manage a major Scotch whisky distillery in the 20th century. Her leadership spanned more than four decades, during which she expanded the number of stills and transformed Laphroaig into a globally recognised brand. Whisky bottled under the Williamson label carries all the hallmarks of Laphroaig's distinctive Islay character: heavily peated, maritime, with bold notes of smoke, seaweed, and medicinal iodine. These expressions are typically released by independent bottlers seeking to offer enthusiasts access to single cask or limited bottlings from this legendary distillery, often at ages and cask types not found in the official range. The Williamson name is a fitting tribute to Bessie Williamson, recognised by Whisky Magazine as one of the 100 greatest whisky people of all time. Her legacy lives on not only in the distillery she shaped, but in every bottle bearing her family name.