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Celebrate Friendship with Tim Pope
This International Friendship Day, join fellow Friends of Laphroaig for an exclusive Laphroaig Live with legendary music video director, Tim Pope. Enjoy a first reading from his upcoming memoir, taste our latest Càirdeas whiskies and celebrate the friendships that inspire unforgettable stories.
An evening with Tim Pope
Be among the first to hear Tim read from his upcoming memoir, “I Shoot Rock Stars" before the book reaches shelves next month. Pour yourself a dram of Càirdeas and join us for an unforgettable evening of stories, friendship and whisky.
Date: Thursday 30 July
Time: 7pm Islay Time
Location: Live from X London
Host: Tim Pope & Sarah Dowling
Tasting: Laphroaig Càirdeas 2026 French Oak & Càirdeas 2025 Lore Cask Strength
Who can join: Friends of Laphroaig
Includes: Live reading, whisky tasting and Q&A
Can't join us live? Whether you're in another time zone or simply can't make it, the full session will be recorded and available to watch on demand after the event.
What you'll experience
Expect stories you've never heard.
A first look at I Shoot Rock Stars.
A live tasting of Laphroaig Càirdeas 2026 French Oak and Càirdeas 2025 Lore Cask Strength.
And a room full of Friends who know there's nothing quite like Laphroaig.
Why Tim Pope?
Renowned for directing more than 200 iconic music videos and Laphroaig's 'The Taste', starring Willem Dafoe. Tim will take you behind the scenes of an extraordinary career, sharing the friendships, stories and moments that inspired his new memoir.
Most recently, he joined the Laphroaig story as the director behind The Taste, bringing our whisky to life alongside Willem Dafoe.
Character recognises character.
A Vision Built on Boldness
For Pope, The Taste was never about filming a bottle. It was about capturing the unmistakable character of Laphroaig.
Inspired by the poetic descriptions shared by Friends of Laphroaig, including "like a beard growing in your throat", Pope brought that challenge to the screen with Willem Dafoe, exploring a flavour that's as hard to describe as it is unforgettable.
“I SHOOT ROCKSTARS”
The 1980s saw the birth of a new medium that took the world by storm: the pop video. And Tim Pope, a music fanboy-turned-video director, was at the forefront of this wild ride.
“I Shoot Rock Stars” is the wildly entertaining memoir of the legendary video director, Tim Pope, whose work is synonymous with the glory years of MTV.
On sale – 13th August
A Playlist Curated by Tim Pope
Music has shaped Tim Pope's career for over four decades. Ahead of the live experience, he's curated an exclusive playlist featuring tracks from some of the artists he's worked with through the years.
Bedsitter – Soft Cell
My very first music video was for Soft Cell with this song back in 1981. I dressed Marc Almond in shirts that matched the wallpaper of his claustrophobic apartment, so he disappeared into the walls- a visual metaphor for the song's 1980s club world.
Close to Me – The Cure
My longest and most famous creative partnership has been with The Cure. We've worked together for over 40 years and still do today. For this one, I famously filmed the band inside a wardrobe - a surreal idea I recently revisited by putting Willem Dafoe in a wardrobe for my Laphroaig whisky film.
Lust for Life – Iggy Pop & David Bowie
"Here Comes Johnny Yen Again..." sings the Godfather of Punk. Seeing Iggy live for the first time in 1977 - with David Bowie on keyboards in the backing band - was possibly the greatest gig I've ever witnessed. I later made several films with Iggy, and he introduced me to Bowie, beginning a 12-year creative partnership.
Stories. Smoke. Càirdeas
It's the dram we'll share during the evening as Tim Pope reads from his new book and tells the stories behind some of music's most iconic creative partnerships.
One night. One guest. One whisky made for Friends.
Taste along with Tim. Order your bottle of Càirdeas 2026 French Oak and Càirdeas 2025 Lore Cask Strength before the live experience and join the tasting from wherever you are.
Friendship Comes with Benefits
A great evening deserves a great dram. Whether you're tasting along with Tim or exploring the range at home, enjoy 15% off and free shipping at Laphroaig.com for a limited time.
Not a Friend of Laphroaig yet?
Becoming a Friend is free. Sign up today and enjoy:
- Claim your Turf – your own honorary square foot of Islay
- Early access to exclusive releases
- Exclusive live experiences and guided tastings
- Entry to exclusive sweepstakes
- Member-only rewards and benefits
FAQs
The International Day of Friendship is observed on 30th July in most parts of the world. At Laphroaig, we celebrate ours on 31st July, in the company of Tim Pope, and mark it all month long.
Tim Pope is the acclaimed director behind some of music's most iconic videos, from The Cure to Iggy Pop. He directed "The Taste", our WDF x Laphroaig short film with Willem Dafoe.
Tim Pope’s book, I Shoot Rock Stars: The Wild Adventures of a Music Video Director, will be published by Wildfire Books on 13 August 2026. During the Laphroaig live tasting in London, Tim will also speak about the book and the stories behind a career spent working with some of music’s most unmistakable characters.
Sign in as a Friend of Laphroaig and visit the Live Experiences page to reserve your place or check available experiences.
Yes. This is an exclusive experience for Friends of Laphroaig. The good news? Joining is free and gives you access to exclusive releases, live experiences, your own Turf on Islay and more.
Yes. If you're in a different time zone or can't attend the live event, the session will be recorded and available to watch on demand after the event.
No, but we recommend having a bottle of Laphroaig Càirdeas ready if you'd like to taste along with Tim Pope during the live experience.
Friends of Laphroaig is our free community for people who appreciate the unmistakable character of Laphroaig. Members enjoy exclusive releases, live experiences, guided tastings, their own Turf on Islay and member-only rewards.
Càirdeas, meaning "friendship" in Gaelic, is Laphroaig's annual limited edition created to celebrate the Friends of Laphroaig community. Each release explores a unique expression of our unmistakable Islay character.
Once you become a Friend of Laphroaig, you'll be able to claim your own square foot of Islay—your very own Turf on the island we call home.
Yes. Like every Laphroaig whisky, Càirdeas is unmistakably smoky, with the signature peat character that defines our Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Each annual Càirdeas release explores a different maturation or cask influence, bringing new layers of flavour while staying true to Laphroaig's bold, smoky character.
Laphroaig is known for its bold smoky character, balanced by notes of sea salt, sweetness and spice. Every expression has its own personality, but each one reflects the unmistakable character of our Islay home.
Yes. Personalise a bottle of Laphroaig with custom engraving, a personalised message card and gift wrapping to create a memorable whisky gift. Pair it with Tim Pope's upcoming memoir, I Shoot Rock Stars, for a gift that's full of character.
