Producers Blacksmith + Jones announced a launch event for The Water of Life – A Whisky Filmlast week in celebration of Burns Night from 22 - 27 January.

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 — “the most unlikely partnership in the history of whisky” — share their personal experiences of the risk-taking and wild experimentation they used to turn Bruichladdich into a creative and financial powerhouse.

The film also takes you on the journeys of visionaries like Gordon & MacPhail, Billy Walker, 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.

The Water of Life is a uniquely personal perspective on the evolution of whisky by those who lived it – the story of those who played a key part in rediscovering the crafting of the ancient spirit.

Here's the trailer:

The Burns Night Celebration is a 6-day long virtual online program which will include daily screenings of the film accompanied by an hour-long panel discussion and Q&A session featuring different stars from the film each day. Additionally, a limited-edition one-off tasting kit, specifically curated to accompany the film, will be available to take viewers on a taste journey while they watch the movie.

The special guests joining the sessions include Jim McEwan (Master Distiller), Adam Hannett (Bruichladdich), Mark Reynier (Waterford Distillery), Rachel Barrie (Brown-Foreman), Stephen Rankin (Gordon & MacPhail), Liam Hughes (Glasgow Distillery), Charles Maclean (Author & Whisky Consultant), Blair Bowman (Author & Whisky Consultant), and Jenna Elie (Scotch Malt Whisky Society), with more being announced in the coming days.

“In the making of the film we had the pleasure of working with some of the legends of the whisky world. We’re thrilled to be able to give our audience the unique opportunity to not only see the film but to also get to experience first-hand what we did when making it: the opportunity to hear the stories, trials, and successes directly from the people who lived it” said Greg Swartz, Director.

For tickets, tasting kits and other offers, visit their website here

Click here for bios of the stars of the film.