Shooting a Whisky Commercial in Scotland

There are few places on earth as raw and untamed as Islay, Scotland. It’s a land where the sea meets rugged cliffs, where the wind carries centuries of stories, and where whisky isn’t just made, it’s lived. So when we were asked to film a new commercial for Ardbeg, one of Islay’s most iconic distilleries, we knew we had to match the spirit of the place with what we set out to capture.

Getting There Was Half the Battle

Before we even began, Islay reminded us who was in charge. The fog was so dense that the plane couldn’t land. Half of the crew, including the client, had to turn back to mainland Scotland in the middle of the night, just nine hours before production was scheduled to commence.

That left us with eight hours to solve a logistical nightmare. The solution was pure guerrilla production problem-solving: last-minute shuttles to the coast four hours away, temporary accommodation for 12 people arranged at 1 a.m., then sending crew and client across the water by powerboat to reach the island in time for sunrise, complete with breakfast.

It wasn’t the smoothest start, but in hindsight, it set the tone perfectly: resourceful, a little chaotic, and totally worth it once we were finally all together on Islay.

"Taming the untamed island of Islay"

The Concept

Working alongside the brilliant directing duo Hot Icarus, the idea was never to simply “sell whisky.” Instead, we set out to visualize what it feels like to taste Islay itself: smoky, dreamlike, powerful, and deeply rooted in the land. The concept played on the elements that shape Ardbeg, water, peat, and smoke.

To bring this vision to life, we blended sweeping landscapes, cliffs, sea, and misty horizons with faces that tell stories: locals and characters whose expressions carry as much depth as the whisky. Cinematography and special effects blurred reality and imagination, pulling the audience into the spirit of the island.

The Crew

A production like this takes a village, and our 24-person crew brought their absolute best. From camera to lighting to special effects, every department pushed to capture something bigger than a commercial, a subversive experience.

We partnered with Bright Signals Agency from the UK, whose insight into both the brand and the region was invaluable. Together, we struck the balance between creative risk and brand authenticity.

The Gear Highlight

One of the most exciting aspects of this shoot was pushing the visuals with serious camera work. Our DP, Rowan Biddiscomb, and Steadicam operator Beaumont Pritchard-James used an Optics Excellence periscope probe lens mounted on a Trinity rig.

The result? Surreal, fluid movement through environments, slipping past glasses, weaving through firelight, gliding just above the rugged Islay ground. It gave us shots that felt as immersive and dreamlike as the whisky itself, perfectly matched with the VFX planned for post. Every time Beaumont swung that Trinity rig into action, the crew would gather to watch. It was as much a performance behind the camera as in front of it, a reminder of how the right tools in the right hands can transform a story.

Behind the Scenes Moments

The weather, as you’d expect in Scotland, kept us on our toes. One minute we had golden sunlight, the next we were fighting the elements. Yet whenever we truly needed a clear window, it seemed to arrive. That unpredictability gave the film its texture.

Locals often stopped to watch the shoot, sometimes lending props, sometimes stepping in as extras. Their generosity became part of the story.

Nights ended around the fire, sipping Ardbeg and swapping stories of the day: the perfect reminder of why we were there.

The Result

What came together was more than a commercial, it was a cinematic love letter to Islay and to Ardbeg whisky. A project that reminded us why we do what we do: chase beauty, tell stories, and capture feelings that words alone can’t express.