I recently had the privilege of viewing a new docuseries, Independent Spirits; A Whiskey Series which was produced by the same folks who gave us The Water of Life – A Whisky Film. This new docuseries brings the viewer into an intimate conversation with and about independent bottlers; access that serious whiskey enthusiasts generally do not have. This feature alone is worth the price of admission.
The directors, writers, and the production team have crafted a series of the highest quality in its genre. While they take advantage of the some of the technical keystones of modern filmmaking, the series remains firmly anchored in its authenticity. It’s no coincidence that this authenticity matches the ethos of many whiskey enthusiasts around the world these days; the desire to discover that which is genuine within a world that is constantly pushing “virtual” experiences delivered to us by CG actors and AI agents.
Of course there are no actors in this series, and nothing is staged. The locations, the people, and the story the series unfolds is both genuine and fascinating. Even someone who doesn’t drink Scotch whisky might well be intrigued with this series. There are four episodes in total, each running about thirty minutes. For the sake of brevity, and my desire not to spoil it for you, I will only walk you through the first episode.
Episode 101, The Best Tasting Bits
This first episode introduces us to the world of independent whisky bottling in Scotland. We meet a wide a variety of individuals representing not only the bottlers but also distillers, brokers, consultants, writers, and others in the industry. They all share their unique perspective of the history of that trade and what it is that makes it so special. They discuss the craft of blending and explain how it developed and why it is a key factor in in the trade. We learn about whiskey brokers and how they play an important role in managing post-production barrel stocks. There’s discussion about how marketing has changed and advanced throughout the past two centuries, and leaves us at the threshold of the mid-century market collapse in the 1970’s.
The series continues with, “Feeding the Geekery”, “Not a Proper Job”, and “Promiscuous Customers”.
This is beautiful filmmaking which has been as carefully crafted as the whisky itself. The flavors of a documentary are there, but its tone and cadence results in a warm, welcoming, and engaging film to watch. The camera work and shot selection come together as though it were all one take, which of course means that the editing was a masterstroke. The original score composed by James Miller Ingram with an introductory performance by The Matt Seattle Band fittingly contributes to the arc of the series, and the entire enterprise might well be orphaned without it. While it is clearly a testament to the skill, craftsmanship and dedication of independent bottlers, the series is also stands on its own as a beacon of timeless, fine filmmaking not often seen in the modern age of CGI. With only four short episodes, the series is a triumph in its own right.
I thoroughly enjoyed this series and I will watch it again with friends because I know that it is saturated with details which one often misses on first viewing alone. Here we have a blend of the stories of independent bottlers, brought to us by independent filmmakers. Could there be a better combination? I think not.
For any whiskey enthusiast who is interested in learning more about this aspect of the industry, this is a superior work of art that is absorbing and educational. The team involved understand whisky on an expert level, and have done a superb job to make it entertaining and approachable. The ethos, craftsmanship, and history of independent spirits is in good hands with this team.
It is worthy of our highest recommendation.
To learn more about the film, read our cover story here.
Go here to watch Independent Spirits – A Whisky Series.
Note: All photos used courtesy of Independent Spirits team.
