Stephen Rankin

Independent whisky bottlers are the rebels and visionaries of today’s whisky world—crafting rare, exceptional spirits that defy convention. Created by the team behind The Water of Life – A Whisky Film, Independent Spirits is a documentary that explores these passionate artisans redefining whisky through creativity and craftsmanship. The film, which was co-directed by Greg Swartz and Guy Satchwell, features exclusive interviews with more than 50 industry leaders, offering an inside look at their dedication to sourcing, blending, and aging exceptional whisky, highlighting the ingenuity that sets independent bottlers apart.

The Water of Life is a feature documentary that focuses on the craftsmen, chemists, and renegades at the heart of the whisky revolution that turned the stagnant scotch whisky industry of the 1980s into the titan it is today. Starting behind the locked gates of an abandoned distillery, Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier share their personal experiences of the risk-taking and wild experimentation they used to turn Bruichladdich into what it is today. The film takes you on the journeys of other early visionaries like Gordon & MacPhail, Billy Walker, Dr. Rachel Barrie and David Stewart, whose mixture of talent, chemistry, hard work, grit, and a little sprinkle of magic paved the way for the next generation of innovators like Adam Hannett, Kelsey McKechnie, Liam Hughes, Iain Croucher, and Eddie Brook.