Independent Spirits Docuseries Premieres in Edinburgh

19 Mar

Independent Spirits Docuseries Premieres in Edinburgh, Showcasing the Bold World of Independent Bottlers.

From the visionary team behind The Water of Life – A Whisky Film comes Independent Spirits, a captivating four-part docuseries which premiered on Friday, March 14, 2025 at the Scotsman Picturehouse in Edinburgh. The series screened again the following day at the Independent Spirits Festival at the Leith Theatre.

What began as a small companion piece to The Water of Life has evolved into an expansive deep dive into one of the most creative and dynamic corners of the whisky world: Independent Bottlers.

“Part of the fun of making this film was just explaining, in something approaching a concise form, just what indie bottlers are and what they do,” said co-director Greg Swartz.
“Whisky lovers know the big brands—but the most exciting and rarest whiskies come from the independent bottlers, who seek out hidden gems, experiment fearlessly, and shape the future of whisky.”

Co-directed by Swartz and Guy Satchwell, Independent Spirits offers an intimate look at nearly 50 pioneers—from family-owned bottlers with centuries of history to modern innovators redefining the industry. Through in-depth interviews and behind-the-scenes access, the series explores how these bottlers select casks, experiment with aging techniques, and push the boundaries of what whisky can be.

“At last count, we’ve now spoken with nearly 50 of them, from industry giants like Gordon & MacPhail, Cadenhead’s, and Elixir, to smaller bottlers who are often at the creative cutting edge of whisky… like the Thompson Brothers and Turntable,” said Satchwell.

The full four-episode series first screened at Noon on Saturday, March 15th, at Morton Hall, adjacent to the Leith Theatre, which also served as the venue for the Independent Spirits Festival.

Beyond its festival debut, Independent Spirits is set for an international rollout featuring live events across Europe and North America, combining film screenings with curated whisky tastings.

“We want to go beyond the traditionally passive viewing experience and into something completely new,” said producer Trevor Jones. “We want interactivity with the audience. We want the series to be experienced, not just watched.”

With future opportunities for at-home streaming, Independent Spirits is poised to bring whisky lovers deeper into the world of independent bottlers—where heritage, creativity, and bold risks shape some of the most exciting whisky being made today.