Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

My husband Bill and I will be traveling to Scotland in November in celebration of our 10th anniversary.  In anticipation of that trip, which at this point has been planned for a year, we've been watching documentaries about Scotland, courtesy of Netflix.com.  Bill loves his scotch, so on the advice of some travel related messageboard, I decided to rent the documentary Great Scotch Whisky.  

The documentary

This film, released in 2006 and narrated by obvious Scotsman Andrew McIntosh, offers a fascinating introduction to fine Scotch whiskies as well as Scottish history.  Running at 90 minutes, Great Scotch Whisky will take you on a tour of Scotland.  With a soundtrack that includes well known Scottish folk songs set to breathtaking Scottish scenery, Great Scotch Whisky is a treat for the eyes and ears.

McIntosh speaks with a delightful Scottish brogue as he explains the history behind this soul warming spirit.  He covers the single-malt varieties from Speyside to the peaty flavors of Islay, offering a look inside such well-known distilleries as Glenfiddich, Glenlivet, Bowmore, and Lagavulin.  

My thoughts  

This film was a real treat to watch this morning and really helped put Bill and me in the mood to travel to Scotland.  As we watched the documentary, which showed how scotch is made and showed scenes from a factory, Bill commented that Great Scotch Whisky was very interesting.  I enjoyed McIntosh's commentary, which seemed delivered with a sense of pride.  I thought the documentary was a good length and offered information on all the best parts of Scotland for scotch.  It was especially exciting to realize that Bill and I will be visiting some of the places that are featured in this film.

The only negative I can think of regarding Great Scotch Whisky is that even though McIntosh has a good speaking voice and talks about interesting things set to great scenery and lovely music, there are no other spoken perspectives from anyone.  Consequently, it's like you are basically listening to a lecture on Scotland and its most famous drink.  As interesting as this film was, I did find my attention waning at times.  It was somewhat hard to stay especially focused on this film.  I think I would have had an easier time paying close attention if McIntosh had interviewed someone or even appeared on screen.  Viewers only get McIntosh's voiceover, so he doesn't fully engage.

Kids?

Naturally, this film is unrated.   There's nothing in it that would offend children (or their parents).  On the other hand, there's not much in it that would interest them, either, unless they like looking at beautiful scenery and listening to Scottish folk songs.  But I can't see that as a plus, since this film is basically about a substance they aren't legally allowed to enjoy until they are 21 years old.

Overall  

Bill and I enjoyed watching Great Scotch Whisky.  We would recommend it to anyone planning a visit to Scotland, scotch lovers, or just people who enjoy travelogues.

Recommended: Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age