Shot entirely on location in Scotland, Scotch: The Golden Dram tells the story of Uisge beatha, Gaelic for 'water of life'.
Scotch is enjoyed in more than 200 countries, generating over $6 billion in exports each year. For more than a century, Scotch whisky has been the premier international spirit of choice. It is time to tell the story of "uisge" to the world. While capturing stunning Scottish landscapes, the real heart of the film is the characters - the fascinating people who make Scotch whisky. The film explores some of the biggest names in the industry, including Richard Paterson, a master blender whose nose was insured for $2.5 million, Glasstorm, a company specialising in hand-made bottles for rare whiskies that sell for over $10,000 each, and the Cinderella tale of Jim McEwan, the distiller and master blender, a 50 year plus industry veteran who takes on a dilapidated distillery on his home island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides and turns it into an award-winning blend. McEwan acts as the film’s ambassador, guiding us to discover 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, their drive for perfection.

Featuring
Jim McEwan, Richard Paterson, Dr Bill Lumsden, Ian MacMillan, Charles MacLean, Lynne McEwan, Brodie Nairn, Georgie Bell, Robbie Hughes

'A heartfelt tribute to a meticulous craftsman and the tipple that’s the life blood of Scotland' - David Parkinson, Radio Times

'Andrew Peat, making his directorial debut, is also clearly in love, the beautiful cinematography of the Scottish isles rooting the liquor in the landscape and evoking a simpler time which recalls Forsyth’s Local Hero' ★ ★ ★ ★ - Total Film

'In many ways The Golden Dram captures the essence of Scotch whisky, and even of Scotland, through the life story of an industry legend, James McEwan. It is beautifully shot, always engaging, cleverly constructed, candid and natural. entertaining and moving. I often laughed aloud and often had to wipe away a tear. And in this I was not alone!' - Charles Maclean, whisky writer