Scotch: A Golden Dream

Watching this film, you could be forgiven for thinking it was produced by a government-owned tourism bureau. But this is the story of single malts, and those who have devoted their lives to the stewardship of an art form, none more so than Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich Distillery.

If there is a sour note in an otherwise sweet film, it is intentional; like pairing a dram with a lime wedge. The taste of bitterness comes through when the distillers talk about the impact of high taxes on their products. Like their cousins in the American South, these men and women find themselves and their livelihood at the mercy of government and its insatiable need for revenue.

In the end, I envied the characters' - make no mistake, they are "characters" in the best, most playful sense of the word - passion for Scotch, and looked forward to my next opportunity to pour a golden glass.

This is a loving doc built on interviews with serious but charming people in the scotch whiskey business. If this doesn't make you want to pour yourself a whiskey, I don't know what would.

I so loves this documentary. It gives you a deep insight what it takes to make a good whiskey, whether its single malt or blended. The whole whiskey making process is as rich as its taste. Its the meticulous details which makes them truly to say its a scotland whiskey, its a scotch. I have always been a scotch whiskey person and I would always be. The best part I like about the statement " the whiskey is the most beautiful and sweet when its between 10 to 18 yrs of age" and also the fact about what makes a good dram is its not the taste of whiskey itself but an experience which let you enjoy the dram. Enjoy this beautiful documentary - all great whiskers and keep drinking !! Cheers !!

If you are partial to single malts or just want to see rural seaside Scotland close up this gorgeously produced documentary is for you.

Its primary appeal is its balancing of details about how Scotch Whiskey is made with details about who the people are who are responsible for this industry.

The amount of detail about scotch is really quite impressive. As much as I am partial to single malts I learned a lot about the art and science that goes into the distilling process. There are side trips into glassblowing and into the role of women in the industry. Also raised are questions about whether or not age really correlates with quality; what is said might be surprising to some.

Like the appreciation of fine scotch, it pays to slow down and relax while you watch this 89-minute documentary. Recommended.

I found this on Amazon streaming movies. I am one of those whisk(e)y lovers, I enjoy all types, including a good Scotch, even though Bourbons are my favorite. Some years back I had the pleasure of visiting Oban and the distillery there, it has a lasting impact on me.

A running time of 90 minutes at first seemed too long but it is so well organized, covering every aspect in turn, and the stories are so well told that when it was over I found myself wishing it had been a bit longer.

The film includes many in the industry of making and marketing Scotch whisky, but more focus is on Jim McEwan, a distiller and master blender, a 52-year industry veteran. He is a quite entertaining person, obviously quite skilled in the subject, and also seems like a very nice person. His is the fairy tale story, as a young boy walking past the Islay distillery he was often detained by looking through a window, as a willowy teen was given a summer job, and through hard work and dedication became one of the giants of the industry.

Good documentary.