BrightWolf Films had the honour of filming the launch films of this extraordinary whisky pairing, The Rollercoaster, by Ardbeg. Founded in 1815 on the remote and untamed Scottish Isle of Islay, Ardbeg is a resilient spirit with a tumultuous history marked by glorious highs and perilous lows.

On 25 March 1981, the Ardbeg Distillery faced a daunting challenge as it was mothballed. The doors were closed, taps turned off, and the stills fell silent, leaving a lingering question: How long would this silence last? A few months? A few years? Forever?

In 1989, a new chapter unfolded for Ardbeg with the arrival of new owners, paving the way for the Distillery to reopen its doors and the stills to sing once more. It marked the beginning of a new era for Ardbeg.

The Rollercoaster serves as a tangible embodiment of this remarkable narrative, bringing together the last cask from 1981 and one of the first casks from 1989. It stands as a symbol of the Distillery’s triumphant resurrection, encapsulating the essence of a bygone era—a unique time capsule that pays homage to Ardbeg’s enduring spirit.

Our team helped to capture this incredible story with shoots in Edinburgh and at Ardbegs brand home on Islay.

We filmed across multiple locations with a variety of different technical setups – gimbal stabilisation, motion control and multi-camera. We shot on Islay at Ardbeg with Master Distiller Dr Bill Lumsden and also filmed the interviews and pieces to camera back in Edinburgh at the Balmoral Hotel with whisky expert Charlie MacLean, MBE.