Today marks the first day of the Edinburgh International Film Festival’s campaign #EdFilmFestatHome. In these crazy times, the EIFF are bringing you an online festival of cinema straight to your sofa! Running from 24th June to the 5th July there will be new releases including UK premieres, live Q&As and special guests across all 12 days of the festival – you can find out all you need to know here.
In celebration of this event we thought we’d put together a list of some Scotch whisky related movies and documentaries for you to get your teeth stuck into at home.
Whisky Galore (1949 & 2016)
This brilliant movie is a nice little look into the history of Scotch whisky in the early 20th century. Set during World War II, the tiny (fictional) Scottish island of Todday runs out of whisky. When fortuitously the freighter S.S. Cabinet Minister runs aground nearby during a heavy fog the islanders are over-the-moon to discover the boat’s cargo consists of 50,000 cases of whisky! But when the overbearing commanding officer Captain Wagget demands the return of the bottles, the islanders set about spearheading a rebellion.
Originally a popular novel by Compton Mackenzie based on a true story, it was then made into an Ealing comedy film in 1949, before being re-made in 2016 into a brilliant movie which shows off the beauties of Scotland.
Angel’s Share (2012)
Beginning in the Glasgow City Courthouse, young offender, Robbie, promises to straighten his life out – not just for his own benefit but also for his pregnant partner. Sentenced to community service along with a motley crew of young lawbreakers, the gang are supervised by Harry, who is somewhat of a whisky connoisseur. Before you know it the misfits are introduced into the fragrant world of Scotch whisky, where, rather unexpectedly, Robbie finds he has the nose and knack for expensive whiskies. Plunged into the vast world of the ‘the water of life’ the group get up to all sorts, ending in them each starting a new life.
Did you know that the term ‘the angle’s share’ actually relates to the amount of whisky that is lost to evaportation during the maturation stage. With the whisky evaporating up to the heavens, it was dubbed ‘the angels’s share’.
Scotch! The Story of Whisky
This fantastic three-part documentary was created by the BBC in 2016. Presented by the great Scottish actor, David Hayman, the programmes take you through the world of Scotch from coopers to collectors, experts to enthusiasts, as well as looking into the state of the Scotch whisky industry and examining it’s place in today’s world.
If you’re watching it, do keep an eye out for some well-known faces from the world of Scotch – maybe even a little appearance from one of our own!
Scotch: The Golden Dram
This feature-length documentary captured not only the incredible Scottish landscapes but also the heart of the fascinating people who make Scotch the whisky it is. Exploring some of the stories behind the biggest names in the industry, the documentary is led by renowned distiller and master blender, Jim McEwan who uses his 50 plus year in the industry to take you through; the process and the people, who they are, their personal histories, how they came to immerse themselves in the art and science of making whisky and their drive for perfection.
Full of faces from throughout the whole Scotch whisky industry, this is a great watch. Keep an out as well for a familiar SWE face and a very distinct whisky collection!!
Now grab a dram and enjoy some of these fantastic titles – this list will be updated with any other movies or documentaries about Scotch!
Do you have a favourite film about Scotch, let us know in the comments below!
Keep safe and slàinte mhath!