It began on a walk, the idea for this film.
A walk through the Speyside region of Scotland last October.
A Whiskywalk to be precise. (Speyside Whisky Walk)
I was inspired… not by the grandeur or the history of these world famous distilleries (although both are prevalent at every turn).
I was taken by the silence. The eerie emptiness in the distilleries themselves.
One. Two people at most.
And as we walked along and the whisky piled up in my head, I began to contemplate time.
And how time itself is an ingredient in the crafting of whisky.
Patience is not only recommended; it is as important as the wood, the water, and the barley.
I’m Greg Swartz and I’m the director of The Water of Life. I have always had a cockeyed love affair with Scotland and Ireland and I’ve spent extensive time in both places.
My love of whisky goes back many years to my time as an exchange student in Glasgow. I returned home with a bottle of The Glenlivet, which was displayed for years as a prized treasure.
This time, I’m taking you with me. Together we can watch and learn as the masters of the craft work their magic and then stand back and wait for years if not decades, while time takes over and does its part.
In four weeks time, we’ll start shooting the film during the world famous Feis Ile (https://www.islayfestival.com) on the remote island of Islay… home to some of Scotland’s best distilleries. But that is just the beginning of our trip together. So sit back, grab a drink, and come with us. Every few days, in this space, I’ll share a few thoughts, post a video or two, and post some links to things that inspire me. And I may even ask for advice from time to time.
For now… Sláinte Mhath!
